Mesoporous lanthanum phosphate nanostructures containing H3PO4 as superior electrolyte for PEM fuel cells

Mesoporous lanthanum phosphate nanostructures, involving diverse shaped LaPO4 nanostructures synthesized in EG solution and dandelion-like LaPO4 center dot 0.5H(2)O nanospheres obtained in aqueous solution, have different surface areas and pore volumes for various nanostructures. Lanthanum phosphate containing H3PO4 were prepared by impregnating as-obtained lanthanum phosphate nanostructures in phosphoric acid solution, which showed different proton conductivities for diverse morphologies of lanthanum phosphate and different contents of H3PO4. Among them, sphere-shaped LaPO4 nanostructures containing 5 wt% H3PO4 (s-LaPO4-5 wt% PA) showed promising proton conductivity of around 10(-2) S cm(-1) at 120-180 degrees C and 20% RH. Moreover, the pellet pressed by s-LaPO4-5 wt% PA powder could act as the electrolyte of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and exhibit higher performance (maximum power density of 84.0 mW cm(-2)) than Nafion 115 membrane at 180 degrees C and under 20% RH. In addition, the stability of the MEA electrolyte and the duration of a single cell based on s-LaPO4-5 wt% PA were also tested.