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 solutions. Electrolytes based on poly(acrylamide) hydrogels with H,PO, additives were cast as films and exhibited room temperature protonic conductivities greater than 10(-2) S cm(-1). Both acid and water concentrations influence the proton transport mechanisms. Nonaqueous protonic gels 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 devices. Possible conduction mechanisms in these protonic gels are discussed.