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Technology Stocks : Ballard Power -world leader zero-emission PEM fuel cells -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Cascade Berry who wrote (2690)	6/3/1998 10:25:00 PM
From: Jim	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 5827

Cascade Berry, et al: The discussion of glass membranes is very interesting, but I feel that my understanding of the problem is lacking. It was my thought that the reformer, that produced pure hydrogen, was seperate from the fuel cell. If there is a better way to deliver hydrogen to the fuel cell, would this not be a benefit to Ballard? Perhaps I'm mistaken, any clarification would be appreciated. Jim

To: Cascade Berry who wrote (2690)	6/4/1998 7:03:00 PM
From: Dr. Ezzat G. Bakhoum	Respond to of 5827

To Cascade and Garth: Cascade, again, I posted all my knowledge about this particular point. Obviously, I'll be interested to hear some more details about the Japanese claim before deciding whether it has merit or not. Thanks Garth for your nice words towards me. I'll be looking forward to more exchange of ideas and news. regards..

To: Cascade Berry who wrote (2690)	6/4/1998 9:19:00 PM
From: Sleeperz	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 5827

Glass != Si != SiC SiC is Silicon Carbide is an abrasive used in grinding and other applications. Not made to be used as an electrode. Si - Silicon is used in Breast Implants, Silicon rubber caulking Silicon as in semiconductors are doped to achieve degrees of conductivity used for conducting electricity not Hydrogen ions. Glass is can be made out of various compounds but mostly Silica(Sand) and smaller amounts of Sodium oxide, calcium oxide, alumina, alkali, and other ingredients. 96% silica glass sometimes called porous glass could be what the reseachers in Japan are using. A tempered glass tube is so strong it can be used to hammer a nail into a block of wood. Bullet proof glass is self explanatory. Glass can also be flexible, it can be made into springs which will bend countless times without breaking. Fibre Glass, Optical Glass Fiber, fiber glass rope (3X as strong as hemp rope), Glass Membrane, etc. The same way light bulbs, glass bottles and jars are made could be used to make fuel cells with a convient connection. >>> Dr. Bakhoum...I thought the claim of the company was for high "Proton Mobility" (conduction of H+?), that is hydrogen ions. Does this not make it a potential threat to membranes? Does this mean the "glass" is in fact not a silicon-based compound, according to your argument? Is there necessarily any intrinsic brittleness in such a glass which might preclude it from active duty in the "real <vibrating> world?<<< exchange2000.com DR... >>> 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.<<<