Room temperature operation of surface‐conduction single chamber fuel cell using a novel inorganic electrolyte as proton conductor

Abstract

AbstractThe performance at room temperature of a single chamber fuel cell (SCFC) using a novel pseudboehmite (pb) proton conductor as the inorganic electrolyte, which can operate in the gas mixtures of hydrogen and oxygen, is studied based on the dependence on the soaked treatments of the pb electrolyte, generated from the aluminum film. The surface‐conduction SCFC with a new electrode arrangement, moreover, operated at room temperature in the dry and wet gas mixtures. Maximum open circuit voltage (OCV) of 540 mV was achieved at room temperature operation in the wet gas mixture using the pb electrolyte generated by the soaked treatment of 60 °C. The OCV property in the dry gas mixture falls by a half value when compared to the case of the wet gas mixtures. © 2008 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.