Hydrogen energy and solid state fuel cells

This paper discusses hydrogen energy and the methods for production of hydrogen. It also provides a review of various materials which are hydrogen permeable. Previous studies on the proton-conducting ceramics and their properties are summarized. The principle of proton-conducting solid state fuel cell for conversing the energy of hydrogen containing fuel is described with a discussion of the advantages of proton-conducting ceramic fuel cells as compared to oxygen-ionic conducting fuel cells. The paper is concluded with a discussion of the major materials related technical challenges in the development of the proton-conducting ceramic fuel cells. Paper presented at the 97th Xiangshan Science Conference on New Solid State Fuel Cells, Xiangshan, Beijing, China, June 14–17, 1998.