Low-temperature protonic conduction for hydrogen-related energy applications employing nanostructured functional oxides
The present invention provides a proton conducting thin film having a dense nanometric ceramic material with a relative density of at least about 90% and a grain size of less than about 30 nm, wherein the proton conducting thin film is capable of operating at temperatures of less than about 100° C. in the presence of water vapor. The present invention also provides an electrochemical device using the proton conducting thin film, and a method of making the proton conducting thin film.
1. A 1-3 mm thick dense nanometric ceramic material;
having a relative density of 90-98% and a grain size of 10-20 nm;
wherein the dense nanometric ceramic material is selected from the group consisting of zirconia, ceria, yttrium aluminum garnets, and alumina.
2. The material of claim 1 , wherein the dense nanometric ceramic material is selected from the group consisting of yttria stabilized zirconia and samarium-doped ceria.
3. The material of claim 1 , wherein the dense nanometric ceramic material has a relative density of 95 percent.
4. The material of claim 1 , wherein the dense nanometric material has a relative density of 98 percent.
5. The material claim 1 , wherein the dense nanometric material has a grain size of 10 nm.