PROTON CONDUCTING GEL H3PO4 ELECTROLYTES

Aqueous and organic solutions of strong acids such as H3PO4 have been entrapped in various polymeric gels synthesized within the acid soluti ons. Electrolytes based on poly(acrylamide) hydrogels with H,PO, addit ives were cast as films and exhibited room temperature protonic conduc tivities greater than 10(-2) S cm(-1). Both acid and water concentrati ons influence the proton transport mechanisms. Nonaqueous protonic gel s incorporating H3PO4 have been synthesized using propylene carbonate (PC) and dimethylformamide (DMF) as entrapped solvents. The properties of these various gels have been studied with a view of optimizing the protonic conductivity and possible application in electrochromic devi ces. Possible conduction mechanisms in these protonic gels are discuss ed.