Pore-Controlled Proton Conducting Silica Films

Highly proton-conducting glass films have been prepared by controlling the pore size of the silica film. The conductivity of films with pores perpendicular to the substrate surface is high, whereby the conductivity increases with increasing water content. The high conductivity was retained at relatively low humidity due to the restriction of water movement in the pores. These porous proton-conducting materials are of interest for use in small fuel cell systems.