Characterization and electrochemical properties of P2O5–ZrO2–SiO2 glasses as proton conducting electrolyte

The H2/O2 fuel cell based on the proton conducting P2O5–ZrO2–SiO2 glasses was prepared by sol–gel technique. Structural characterization were carried out using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (31P MAS NMR), N2 adsorption–desorption analysis, differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and impedance measurements. The absorption bonds of Si–O–Si, Si–O–P and Si–O–Zr were observed in the P2O5–ZrO2–SiO2 glasses which were heat treated at 600 °C. A sample (5P2O5–4ZrO2–91SiO2, mol%) was selected as the electrolyte for the H2/O2 fuel cell test and yielded the maximum power density value of 8.5 mW/cm2 using electrochemical measurements at 30 °C under relative humidity atmosphere.