Proton conductors

Owing to missing core electrons protons play a special role amongst ionically conducting materials. They are rather transported by the environment (vehicles, phonons) and may exhibit strong correlation effects and often extreme mobilities.

Proton conducting oxides: acceptor doped perovskites ABO₃ which incorporate protons via hydration of oxygen vacancies

Proton conducting polymers:

• hydrated oxidic polymers (Nafion, sulfonated polyetherketones),
• Systems containing heterocycles (imidazole, pyrazole, benzimidazole),

Phosphoric acid related systems

• Blocking grain boundaries in acceptor-doped BaZrO₃ proton conductors
• Proton conduction in nanocrystalline oxides
• Hydrated acidic ionomers and polyelectrolytes for fuel cell applications
• Polymeric systems conducting protons in the absence of water
• Stable proton conducting oxides for high drain electrochemical applications
• Formation and mobility of (H⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺) in ionomers / polyelectrolytes
• Proton conduction mechanisms in model compounds
• Formation and migration of carriers in phosphoric acid and related systems
• Defect chemistry and transport in materials with three carriers
• Concentration and mobility of protons in H⁺-SOFC cathode materials