Anhydrous solid state proton conductor based on benzimidazole/monododecyl phosphate molecular hybrids

The base–acid hybrids were prepared on the basis of the doping ratio of benzimidazole and monododecyl phosphate acid. Through a strong interaction between the acidic phosphate group and basic site of the benzimidazole, the hybrids showed a high thermal stability up to 160 °C and a large proton conductivity exceeding 10−3 S/cm above 100 °C under non-humidified (anhydrous) conditions. In the present study, the MEA cell with commercial Pt/C electrodes provided an electrical power generation of 0.3 mW/cm2 under dry H2/O2 conditions at a cell temperature of 100 °C.