Fast proton-conducting P2O5-ZrO2-SiO2 glasses

Fast proton-conducting P2O5-ZrO2-2SiO(2) glasses were successfully prepared by the hydrolysis of metal alkoxides. The glasses obtained by heating at 150 to 400 degrees C are chemically stable and exhibit high conductivities of similar to 10 S/cm at room temperature, conductivities that are higher by similar to 4 order than that of glasses containing no P2O5. These high conductivities were regarded as the fast proton transfer accelerated by molecular water bonded with POH groups. These glasses have a high potential for practical applications. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.