Heteropolyacid in glass electrolytes for the development of H2/O2 fuel cells

The scope of the present work was to investigate and evaluate the electrochemical activity of H2/O2 fuel cells based on the influence of a heteropolyacid glass membrane with a Pt/C electrode at low temperature. A new trend of sol–gel derived PMA (H3PMo12O40) heteropolyacid-containing glass membranes inherent of a high proton conductivity and mechanical stability, was heat treated at 600 °C and implemented to H2/O2 fuel cell activities through electrochemical characterization. Significant research has been focused on the development of H2/O2 fuel cells using optimization of heteropolyacid glasses as electrolytes with Pt/C electrodes at 30 °C. A maximum power density of 23.9 mW/cm2 was attained for operation with hydrogen and oxygen, respectively, at 30 °C and 30% humidity with the PMA glass membranes (4–92–4 mol%). Impedance spectroscopy measurements were performed on a total ohmic cell resistance of a membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) at the end of the experiment.