Proton-conducting materials based on heteropoly acid and matrixes

Abstract Hybrid polyoxometalate-based inorganic–organic proton conductors formed through Dawson structure heptadecatungstodiphosphoindic heteropoly acid (P 2 W 17 In), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and silica gel (SiO 2 ), P 2 W 17 In/PVP and P 2 W 17 In/PVP/SiO 2 , have been investigated. These hybrid materials are characterized by IR, XRD and electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS). The results reveal that, at room temperature (18 °C), and 70% relative humidity (RH), the conductivities of hybrid materials are 1.70 × 10 − 3 S·cm − 1 and 1.82 × 10 − 3 S·cm − 1 , respectively. Their activation energy values are 8.80 kJ·mol − 1 and 15.53 kJ·mol − 1 . Their mechanisms of proton conduction are also proposed.