Silicotungstic Acid Research Articles

Injectable hydrogel harnessing foreskin mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles for treatment of chronic diabetic skin wounds

Chronic skin wounds are a serious complication of diabetes with a high incidence rate, which can lead to disability or even death. Previous studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have beneficial effects on wound healing. However, the human foreskin mesenchymal stem cell (FSMSCs)-derived extracellular vesicle (FM-EV) has not yet been isolated and characterized. Furthermore, the limited supply and short lifespan of EVs also hinder their practical use. In this study, we developed an injectable dual-physical cross-linking hydrogel (PSiW) with self-healing, adhesive, and antibacterial properties, using polyvinylpyrrolidone and silicotungstic acid to load FM-EV. The EVs were evenly distributed in the hydrogel and continuously released. In vivo and vitro tests demonstrated that the synergistic effect of EVs and hydrogel could significantly promote the repair of diabetic wounds by regulating macrophage polarization, promoting angiogenesis, and improving the microenvironment. Overall, the obtained EVs-loaded hydrogels developed in this work exhibited promising applicability for the repair of chronic skin wounds in diabetes patients.

Implications of Polyoxometalate Properties on the Performance Characteristics of Redox Flow Battery

Implications of rate coefficients, concentration ratio, and electron-transfer number of the redox species present in the anolyte and catholyte on the performance characteristics of a redox flow battery (RFB) are investigated. Towards this, a polyoxometalate (POM)-V4+/V5+ RFB (with order 104 of magnitude difference in their rate coefficients) is assembled by replacing the anolyte (V2+/V3+) of a well-established vanadium RFB (VRFB); the redox potential of POM is comparable to that of V2+/V3+. The performance of the POM-V4+/V5+ RFB improves by ∼100 mV at reasonable operating current densities (∼ 200 mA cm−2) as compared to that of a VRFB, in a 5 cm2 cell, even though the solubility of tungstosilicic acid (TSA) is 300 mM as compared to 1.8 M VOSO4. Only four electrons can be reversibly extracted from the POM, although extraction of 14 electrons (theoretical) is possible from TSA, limiting the charging voltage to 1.4 V. Overcharging leads to capacity loss and concentration ratio (Catholyte: Anolyte) impacts the overall performance of RFB. Significant vanadium crossover loss is also observed at the anode side.

N‐Butane Isomerization over 0.5 Pt/HPA/MCM‐41 Catalyst: Optimization Study Using Central Composite Design

AbstractIn this research, 0.5 % platinum (Pt)/HPAs/MCM‐41 (Mobil Composition of Matter No. 41) bifunctional catalysts (with different weight percentages of phosphotungstic acid (HPW) and silicotungstic acid (HSiW)) were synthesized for use in the n‐butane isomerization. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, and ammonia temperature‐programmed desorption analyses. The best catalytic activity and highest initial isobutane yield at 250 °C, weight hourly space velocity of 0.15 h−1, and H2/nC4 molar ratio of 3:1 belonged to 0.5 %Pt/20 % HPW/MCM‐41 (41 %) and 0.5 % Pt/40 % HSiW/MCM‐41 (45 %) samples. Subsequently, the yield of isobutane over these catalysts was evaluated and optimized by a central composite experimental design. According to the quadratic model, the maximum isobutane yield under optimal operating conditions was 34.5 % and 41.36 %, respectively, for 0.5 % Pt/20 % HPW/MCM‐41 and 0.5 % Pt/40 % HSiW/MCM‐41 catalysts.

An efficient and mild fractionation of corn stover via 2-phenoxyethanol and silicotungstic acid biphasic pretreatment for biomass valorization

Developing an efficient and facile pretreatment is of great importance to comprehensive utilization of lignocellulosic biomass. Herein, a biphasic system of 2-phenoxylethanol (EPH) and silicotungstic acid (STA) was employed for fractionation of corn stover. The EPH/STA biphasic system demonstrated remarkable fractionation efficiency to remove 90.23 % of xylan and 88.54 % of lignin, while retaining 85.60 % of cellulose under the mild pretreatment conditions of 130 °C for 90 min with 7/3 of EPH/STA and 40 mM of STA. The xylose of 52.93 % and lignin of 88.01 % were recovered in aqueous phase and organic phase by EPH/STA biphasic pretreatment, respectively. In the further process, 94.27 % of saccharification was achieved by enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose-rich solid residue, and 106.17 mg/g of xylonic acid was obtained by oxidation of xylose in aqueous phase. Additionally, the recovered lignin in organic phase could be fabricated to lignin-based films with good mechanical properties. Notably, acid solvent in biphasic system had an important role in fractionation efficiency of corn stover. The STA had the best effect among the different acid solvents. This work provided a promising route to full components utilization of corn stover for biomass valorization.

In-Depth Understanding of Highly Active Silicotungstic Acid Catalysts for Ethanol Dehydration to Ethylene under Industrially Favorable Conditions

In-Depth Understanding of Highly Active Silicotungstic Acid Catalysts for Ethanol Dehydration to Ethylene under Industrially Favorable Conditions

Tandem catalysis of furfural to γ-valerolactone over polyoxometalate-based metal-organic frameworks: Exploring the role of confinement in the catalytic process

Polyoxometalate-based metal-organic frameworks (POMOFs) with bifunctional Lewis-Brønsted acid were designed by confining polyoxometalates (POMs: phosphotungstic acid (PW), phosphomolybdic acid (PMo) or silicotungstic acid (SiW)) within the Zr-MOFs. The confined POMs not only have their own Brønsted acid, but can also regulate the Lewis acid strength of the POMOFs via charge regulation, ultimately allowing the POMOFs to display superior catalytic performance in the tandem catalysis of furfural (FAL) to γ-valerolactone (GVL). Among the three catalysts (POMOF-PW, POMOF-PMo and POMOF-SiW), a complete conversion of FAL was achieved, while POMOF-PW exhibited the highest GVL yield (58.1 %) at 160 °C within 23 h. The leaching experiment and structural characterization of the catalyst before and after recycling confirmed the stability of the catalyst structure. The humin originates from the polymerization of furan ring-containing compounds driven by Brønsted acid. The adsorption configuration of the substrate molecules on the catalyst offers a new explanation for the tandem reaction process, i.e. that perpendicular adsorption performs only the first step of the tandem reaction, while the coexistence of perpendicular and horizontal adsorption permits the entire reaction process. This work gives unique insights into the tandem reaction of FAL and can guide the design of efficient tandem reaction catalysts.

Anchored silicotungstic acid: Study of the synthesis of biofuel additive from levulinic acid & effect of supports

The present article reports the synthesis of butyl levulinate, a potential biofuel additive via the esterification of levulinic acid and n-butanol. A sustainable catalytic approach using heterogeneous catalysts based on 12-tungstosilicic acid (SiW12) and supports, nMCM-48 and MCM-22 was developed via a detailed optimization study to achieve maximum selectivity of butyl levulinate (≥95%) at mild reaction conditions and reused the catalysts for multiple runs. Importantly, the effect of nature as well as the structure of the supports on activity was studied via kinetic experiments and comparative studies. Based on this, the best catalyst was proposed and wide range of alkyl levulinates, possessing fuel-blending properties were synthesized using best catalyst, showcasing its versatile nature.

Silicotungstic acid catalyst supported onto functionalized halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) utilized for the production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) from fructose

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) is a valuable organic compound commonly derived from sugars such as fructose and glucose. Silicotungstic acid (HSiW), a unique Keggin-type heteropolyacid, is a typical catalyst for organic compound production. To synthesize 5-HMF from fructose, we developed a novel catalyst, HSiW@F-HNTs, by combining HSiW and functionalized halloysite nanotubes (F-HNTs) modified with (3-amino-propyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine (TCT), and l-arginine. We analyzed the physicochemical properties of HSiW@F-HNTs using the FT-IR, XRD, BET, FESEM, EDS, and XPS characterization techniques, confirming their suitability for fructose-to-5-HMF conversion. Through response surface methodology (RSM), we investigated and optimized the effects of reaction conditions on 5-HMF production yield. Optimal conditions were found to be a 102 °C reaction temperature, a 65 min reaction time, and an 8.5 wt.% catalyst loading, resulting in a 95 % yield of fructose-to-5-HMF conversion. We also conducted the kinetic and thermodynamic analyses to determine the reaction rate and activation energy (Ea) and estimate the changes in Gibbs free energy (ΔG), enthalpy (ΔH), and entropy (ΔS) of the catalytic conversion reaction. Additionally, the prepared HSiW@F-HNTs catalyst could be recycled up to 9 times without a significant loss in activity, demonstrating its high stability for real-world applications.

Interfacial Hydrogen Bond-Reinforced Adhesion and Cohesion Enabling an Ultrastretchable and Wet Adhesive Hydrogel Strain Sensor.

Historically, research on silicotungstic-acid-based hydrogels has primarily focused on their adhesive properties, often at the expense of mechanical strength (cohesion). In this study, we present a novel approach to fabricate a polysaccharide hydrogel that harmoniously balances both adhesion and cohesion via interfacial hydrogen bonds. This hydrogel, composed of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), polyacrylamide (PAM), silicotungstic acid (SiW), and lithium chloride (LiCl), showcases a unique combination of properties: strain-responsive ionic conductivity, superior transparency, remarkable stretchability, and robust adhesion. Contrary to conventional PAM hydrogels, our PAM-SiW networked hydrogel addresses the common challenge of achieving good adhesion without compromising on cohesion. Specifically, our hydrogel demonstrates a maximum toughness of 20.3 MJ/m3 and a strain of 4079%, an accomplishment rarely observed in other adhesive hydrogel. Furthermore, the hydrogel's adhesion is both reversible and versatile, adhering effectively to a variety of wet and dry substrates. This makes it a promising candidate for advanced healthcare applications, particularly as a mechanically reinforced underwater adhesive with unparalleled stability. We also provide insights into the role of LiCl in the hydrogel matrix, emphasizing its influence on electrostatic interactions without affecting the hydrogen bonds. This study serves as a testament to the potential of harmonizing adhesive and cohesive properties in hydrogels, paving the way for future innovations in the field.

Silicotungstic acid supported on Bi-based MOF-derived metal oxide for photodegradation of organic dyes

Abstract In this article, Bi-based metal–organic framework-supported silicotungstic acid (STA) was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method and used as a precursor for the preparation of the Bi-based MOF-derived catalyst (STA@C-Bi-BDC). Using a combination of FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDS, N2 adsorption–desorption, TG, UV-Vis DRS, and XPS techniques, the successful immobilization of STA groups on Bi-MOF-derived C-Bi-BDC was assessed. Furthermore, the photocatalytic performance of the as-prepared catalysts was investigated in the degradation of the RhB dye process under visible light. Within 120 min of visible light exposure, the high degradation rate of RhB (92.7%) by STA@C-Bi-BDC system was achieved, which was a lot larger than the STA (39.4%), C-Bi-BDC (59.2%), and STA@Bi-BDC (74.0%) system, and cyclic experiments exhibit that the STA@C-Bi-BDC is a relatively stable photocatalyst. More importantly, the catalyst shows high applicability for the degradation of other dyes. This study reveals a comprehensive strategy for the design of efficient Bi-based MOF-derived photocatalyst for organic dye-based wastewater treatment.

Polyoxometalate Induced Assembly Into Surface Functionalized Multidimensional Heterostructures with Enhanced Catalytic Activity.

The self-assembly of inorganic nanocrystals offers an efficient way for the fabrication of functional materials. However, it is still challenging for the construction of multidimensional nanostructures with controllable shapes, compositions and functions. Here, a series of heterostructures in different dimensions by surface modification of polyoxometalate (POM) clusters is developed. Three kinds of POM clusters(phosphomolybdic acid (PMA), phosphotungstic acid (PTA) and silicotungstic acid (STA) and five kinds of metal oxides (TiO2 , VOx , La2 O3 , In2 O3 and Gd2 O3 ) can be used as building blocks, and a class of 1D, 2D and 3D heterostructures can be achieved by the control of surface ligand coverage. Compared with individual building blocks and other cluster-based superstructures, TiO2 -PMA superstructures exhibit enhanced catalytic activity toward thioether oxidations, which is attributed to the electron transfer between TiO2 and POM clusters.

Development and optimization of a sustainable polyoxometalate-kaolinite-based catalyst for efficient desulfurization of model and real fuel using Box-Behnken design.

The oxidative desulfurization of dibenzothiophene in model and real fuel has been investigated by developing an environmentally sustainable catalyst H4SiW12O40@f-kaolinite. The catalyst was synthesized by modifying kaolinite clay with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (f-kaolinite) followed by immobilizing silicotungstic acid hydrate (H4SiW12O40) onto its surface. The successful synthesis of the catalyst was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The influence of variables i.e., catalyst dosage, temperature, and oxidant concentration on the conversion of dibenzothiophene was optimized by Box-Behnken design. The highest sulfur reduction (from 1000 to 78.3 ppm, with a conversion rate of 92.17%) was achieved at 70 °C, using a catalyst dosage of 70 mg and 8 mL of H2O2 in a model fuel. ANOVA analysis indicated that the quadratic model (R 2 = 0.99) was well-fitted for dibenzothiophene conversion, with a p-value of 0.2302 suggesting no statistically significant lack of fit compared to pure error. Furthermore, the H4SiW12O40@f-kaolinite demonstrated a reduction of dibenzothiophene concentration from 354 ppm to 224 ppm in a real fuel oil sample. The heterogeneous nanocatalyst showed remarkable stability, maintaining its elemental structure after five cycles without significant efficiency loss, promoting environmental sustainability.

Removal of Levofloxacin by Activation of Peroxomonosulfate Using T-POMs@ZIF-67

The pyrolysis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is a popular strategy for the synthesis of nanoporous structures. Polymetallic oxides (POMs) are a class of polyhedral structural compounds with unique physicochemical properties. Little effort has been paid to evaluate MOF-POM hybrid-derived materials for peroxomonosulfate (PMS) activation. In this study, a cobalt-based MOF, ZIF-67, together with three types of POMs (phosphomolybdic acid, silicotungstic acid, and phosphotungstic acid), were used as precursors for the synthesis of PMS activation catalyst via pyrolysis. Three T-POMs@ZIF-67 nanohybrids (T-PMo@ZIF-67, T-SiW@ZIF-67, and T-PW@ZIF-67) were obtained by pyrolyzing the prepared precursors at 500 °C. Furthermore, the prepared T-POMs@ZIF-67 nanomaterials were evaluated for the catalytic activation of PMS in the degradation of levofloxacin (LEV). The results showed that the LEV degradation rate could reach 91.46% within 30 min under the optimized conditions when T-PW@ZIF-67 was used as the PMS activation catalyst. The catalytic efficiency of the catalyst decreased by only 9.63% after five cycles, indicating that the material has good stability. This work demonstrates the great potential of POMs@MOF derivatives for application in the field of wastewater treatment.

Tungstosilicic Acid: A Promising Electrolyte for Redox Flow Battery

Large-scale energy-storage systems are vital for the integration of renewable energy technologies. Vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) is one of the most developed and mature energy storage technologies available today. However, VRFB suffers from low energy density and non-availability of active materials. [1]. Recently, polyoxometalates are emerging as promising electrolyte materials with high energy density owing to their capability of multi-electron-transfer per molecule and faster redox reactions [2-3]. From the number of polyoxometalates which are available, tungstosilicic acid (TSA) is a good candidate as a negative electrolyte and is investigated in RFB. The equilibrium redox potential and the corresponding electron-transfer number of all the three redox peaks of TSA are determined. One electron-transfer in the first two redox peaks (0.008 V vs. RHE and –0.248 V vs. RHE) and approximately 14 electrons in the third redox reaction (-0.374 V vs. RHE) are determined using chronoamperometry. The equilibrium redox potential of the third redox peak is comparable to that of the V2+/3+ redox couple (−0.295 V vs. RHE), which is commonly used as a negative electrolyte in VRFB. There is a significant potential difference between the third redox peak of TSA (−0.374 V vs. RHE) and VO2 +/ VO2+ redox couple (1.118 V vs. RHE). The current loss due to parasitic hydrogen evolution at the third redox peak potential is very less in comparison to TSA reduction current and the same is confirmed by chronoamperometry and linear sweep voltammetry. Thus, multi-electron-transfer, optimum redox potential and negligible HER current is the motivation to fabricate a TSA-VO2+ RFB with vanadyl sulfate (VOSO4) as positive electrolyte. The high-electron transfer per TSA molecule leads to higher power density at relatively low concentrations of TSA. Power density of 100 mM TSA – 1 M VO2+ flow battery is higher than that of 1 M all vanadium RFB and the impact of concentration ratio between the electrolytes on the power density is studied. Higher concentration of vanadium electrolyte for a given TSA concentration gives better power density and charge capacity of the flow battery. On over-charging of the battery, TSA changes to irreversible state and further may precipitate [4]; thus, charging potential of RFB is optimized. The improvement in performance is also validated by the two-electrode cell electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results. Figure: Cyclic Voltammograms of 100 mM TSA in 0.5 M H2SO4 (black) over bare glassy carbon electrode, equimolar (1 M each) VO2 +/VO2+ (blue) and equimolar V3+/V2+ (red) in 3M H2SO4 over Vulcan-C coated GC electrode recorded at scan rate of 20 mV s-1.

(Keynote) Polyoxometallate Functionalized Membranes for Next Generation Fuel Cells, Electrolyzers and Other Devices

Using polyoxometalate moieties we are developing proton conducting membranes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells, electrolyzers and other devices that can solve the durability and environmental challenges and temperature limitations facing the state of the state-of-the-art perfluorinated sulfonic acid-based membranes. During recent work with perfluorinated membranes we have shown how to achieve stability enhancement that easily exceeds the Fuel Cell DOE accelerated stress tests (AST) for chemical stability and mechanical durability requirements for light duty vehicles. This indicates the potential of these For this perfluorinated polymer-HPA combination we obtained higher performance than the current state-of-the-art PFSAs under high humidity conditionsHPA moieties to give oxidative stability to hydrocarbon membranes as well. New membrane technology we are working on will utilize covalently bound heteropoly acids (HPA), inorganic super acids, that have both some of the highest proton conductivities when wet and have been proven to catalytically decompose oxygenated radicals that destroy existing membranes. We have already demonstrated similar membranes in fuel cells with high performance and some of the most stable long term durability ever demonstrated. In fuel cells, the materials always performed beyond state-of the-art when in humid conditions but struggled when the cells became dry, as electrolysis applications feeds water to the cell we have very high confidence that we will be able to easily exceed electrolyzer performance targets. We are improving upon this polymer chemistry and are now tailoring it specifically to electrolysis. When configured correctly within a hydrocarbon polymer membrane these HPA-hydrocarbon polymers will outperform perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymers. The correct HPA chemistry must be chosen, and we have shown that silicotungstic acid derivatives act as strong proton conducting moieties and also catalytically decompose oxygenated radicals. This will then enable hydrocarbon membranes with practical lifetimes and performance using the silicotungstic functionality. We are aiming to control the HPA channel morphology and allow for maximum proton conductivity with minimum water uptake. The engineered structures will facilitate proton conduction from ambient conditions to temperatures in excess of 120°C (the polymeric materials chosen are stable to 200°C when dry and potentially much higher when wet and pressurized), as well as achieving cost and durability targets for PEM membranes in electrolyzer applications. Our approach will also allow for development of an ionomer for optimal interfacing with the electrodes.

Polyoxometalate-Guanosine Monophosphate Hydrogels with Haloperoxidase-like Activity for Antibacterial Performance.

Haloperoxidases represent an important class of enzymes that nature adopts as a defense mechanism to combat the colonial buildup of microorganisms on surfaces, commonly known as biofouling. Subsequently, there has been tremendous focus on the development of artificial haloperoxidase mimics that can catalyze the oxidation of X- (halide ion) in the presence of H2O2 to form HOX. The natural intermediate HOX disrupts the bacterial quorum sensing, thus preventing biofilm formation. Herein, we report a simple method for the formation of supramolecular hydrogels through the self-assembly of Keggin-structured polyoxometalates, phosphotungstic acid, and silicotungstic acid with the small biomolecule guanosine monophosphate (GMP) in an aqueous medium. The polyoxometalate-GMP hydrogels that contained highly entangled nanofibers were mechanically robust and showed thixotropic properties. The gelation of the polyoxometalates with GMP not only rendered manifold enhancement in biocompatibility but also the fibril network in the hydrogel provided high water wettability and the polyoxometalates acted as an efficient haloperoxidase mimic to trigger oxidative iodination, as demonstrated by a haloperoxidase assay. The antifouling activity of the phosphotungstic acid-GMP hydrogel was demonstrated against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, which showed enhanced antibacterial performance of the hydrogel as compared to the polyoxometalate alone. We envision that the polyoxometalate-GMP hydrogels may facilitate mechanically robust coatings in a simple pathway that can be useful for antifouling applications.

Antibacterial composites based on halloysite with silver nanoparticles and polyoxometalates

The spread of bacterial infections aggravated by the development of microbial resistance to antibiotics requires the creation of protective antibacterial materials. Nanomaterials with biocides can provide antibacterial and antibiofilm properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In this work, we synthesized nanocomposites with silver nanoparticles and different polyoxometalates of Keggin-structure (phosphomolybdic, phosphotungstic, and tungstosilicic acids) on eco-friendly nanoclay called halloysite. We found that the nanocomposite containing silver nanoparticles and phosphomolybdic acid deposited on the halloysite possesses the best antibacterial performance of all the obtained composites, having a minimal inhibitory concentration of 0.5 g/L against S. aureus, 0.25 g/L against P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii. This composite reduces the viability of formed biofilms at a concentration of 2.5 g/L.

Oxidative Depolymerization of Polyphenylene Oxide into Benzoquinone.

Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) is one of the most important engineering plastics commonly utilized in various fields. Herein, chemical recycling of PPO was performed via oxidative depolymerization to form 2,6-diemthyl-p-benzoquionone (26DMBQ) as a sole aromatic product in 66 % yield using nitronium ions (NO2 + ) as a mild oxidant. Mechanistic studies revealed that PPO is oxidized by NO2 + generated from the combination of a silicotungstic acid and nitrate salts, and then subsequently attacked by H2 O to achieve C-O bond cleavage, resulting in the formation of 26DMBQ, which was sublimed at the headspace of the reaction vessel in pure form. 26DMBQ was applied to polymerization with dianilines to form polyimides. Thus, an upgrade recycling process of PPO was demonstrated.

Apparent symmetry rising induced by crystallization inhibition in ternary co-crystallization-driven self-assembly

The concept of apparent symmetry rising, opposite to symmetry breaking, was proposed to illustrate the unusual phenomenon that the symmetry of the apparent morphology of the multiply twinned particle is higher than that of its crystal structure. We developed a unique strategy of co-crystallization-driven self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers PEO-b-PS and the inorganic cluster silicotungstic acid to achieve apparent symmetry rising of nanoparticles under mild conditions. The triangular nanoplates triply twinned by orthogonal crystals (low symmetry) have an additional triple symmetry (high symmetry). The appropriate crystallization inhibition of short solvophilic segments of the block copolymers favors the oriented attachment of homogeneous domains of hybrid nanoribbons, and consequently forms kinetic-controlled triangular nanoplates with twin grain boundaries.

Zirconium Phytate-Based Proton Conductors for High-Temperature Fuel Cell Applications

Fuel cells are preferred to operate at high temperatures, i.e., more than 100°C, due to their numerous advantages, that range from improved kinetics and better water management. Unfortunately, Nafion cannot operate above 80°C as it dehydrates, so its proton conductivity decreases significantly. Therefore, in this work, a new polymer electrolyte membrane is developed. It is based on solid proton conductors-Zirconium phytate (ZrPA) and Silicotungstic acid. Ionic liquids are used as structure-directing agents. ZrPA/Silicotungstic acid/IL composite membranes were fabricated and supported on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The composite membranes were evaluated for their proton conductivity. High proton conductivity of 0.0911 S/cm was achieved at room temperature when a 7.26 wt.% ionic liquid (1-Hexyl-3- methylimidazolium tricyanomethanide) was used. The proton conductivity kept its value at 0.0066 S/cm even at a higher temperature of 150°C.