Proton-conducting solid acid electrolytes based upon MH(PO3H)

Solid acids, such as CsHSO4 and CsH2PO4, are a novel class of anhydrous proton-conducting compounds that can be used as electrolyte in H2/O2 and direct methanol fuel cells. The disordering of the hydrogen-bonded network above the so-called superprotonic phase transition results in an increase of the proton conductivity by several orders of magnitude. Unlike conventional polymer electrolytes, such as Nafion©, proton conduction in the solid acids does not rely on transport of hydronium ions. The research described in this thesis is mainly focused on developing protonconducting solid acid electrolytes for potential use in a micro solid acid-based fuel cell.