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Technology Stocks : Ballard Power -world leader zero-emission PEM fuel cells
BLDP 3.070+1.5%10:14 AM EST

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To: John M Connolly who wrote (2687)6/3/1998 8:57:00 PM
From: Dr. Ezzat G. Bakhoum  Read Replies (2) of 5827
 
John, let me explain this one more time in a very clear manner: silicon -and its compounds, such as silicon carbide- is a suitable electrode material, because it is inert to acidic electrolytes in fuel cells; but IT IS NOT, as far as I know, a suitable membrane material. Why? This has to do with the mobility (mu) of protons in the exchange membrane. Compounds of silicon, through doping, can be made to conduct ELECTRONS very well (from which the famous theory of semiconductors was developed); but the conductivity of PROTONS is an entirely different game. As far as we presently know, some materials, such as phosphoric acids, some metal oxides, and the recently developed polymers offer such a high mobility of protons. But I haven't heard of any silicon compound that offers a high proton mobility?

Just a humble opinion. I'm not saying that I know better than the PhD's of Japan.
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