HPW/MCM‐41 Phosphotungstic Acid/Mesoporous Silica Composites as Novel Proton‐Exchange Membranes for Elevated‐Temperature Fuel Cells

A novel inorganic proton-conducting membrane based on highly ordered MCM-41 mesoporous silica with phosphotungstic acid (HPW) nanoparticles assembled within is successfully fabricated by a vacuum-assisted impregnation method (VIM). The results of HPW impregnation by VIM and a conventional method (CIM) are compared (see figure), and the performance of the membranes in fuel cells is reported. Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are published as ”Supporting Information”. Such documents are peer-reviewed, but not copy-edited or typeset. They are made available as submitted by the authors. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.