Investigation of proton-conducting solids

Abstract

One-dimensional bulk proton conduction parallel to the c axis was observed in solid lithium hydrazinium sulfate, LiN 2H 5SO 4. The conductivity in this direction is 2 × 10 −8 ω −1 cm −1 at 25°C and shows an activation enthalpy of 0.75 ± 0.07 eV. The two-dimensional conductors HUO 2AsO 4·4H 2O and HUO 2PO 4·4H 2O were studied as a function of their water content. The conductivities are 8 × 10 −6 and 3 × 10 −5 ω −1 cm −1 in the orthorhombic phase at −10°C, with activation enthalpies of 0.70 ± 0.05 and 0.57 ± 0.07 eV, respectively. Indications of peritectic transitions to the tetragonal phases were observed in the temperature ranges 15 to 47 and −5 to 10°C, respectively. The transition depends on the water content which appears to control the increase in conductivity in this material. The dependence upon various sample parameters is discussed. Fast proton transport in solids is proposed to occur by a “vehicle mechanism”, i.e. the motion of N 2H + 5, H 3O +- or other proton-containing groups.