Discovering the Vehicle Mechanism of Proton Conductivity

The diffusion of protons as part of protonated molecules (e.g. H₃O⁺) together with the diffusion of uncharged molecules (vehicles) allow for the net-transport of  protons (vehicle-mechanism). As opposed to structure diffusion (Grotthuß-mechanism, proton hopping), this mechanism corresponds to the most common case of proton conduction, especially in aqueous systems.

K.-D. Kreuer, A. Rabenau, and W. Weppner 
Vehicle Mechanism, A New Model for the Interpretation of the Conductivity of Fast Proton Conductors 
Angewandte Chemie International Edition 21(3), 208–209 (1982). 
DOI: 10.1002/anie.198202082

K. D. Kreuer, A. Rabenau, and R. Messer 
Proton Conductivity in the Layer Compound H₃O UO₂ AsO₄ 3H₂O. II Conductivity in the Tetragonal High Temperature Phase 
Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing 32, 155–158 (1983). 
DOI: 10.1007/BF00616611

K. D. Kreuer, W. Weppner, and A. Rabenau 
Investigation of Proton-Conducting Solids 
Solid State Ionics 3–4, 353–358 (1981). 
DOI: 10.1016/0167-2738(81)90112-0

K. D. Kreuer and A. Rabenau 
Protonenleitung im Uranospinit HUO₂AsO₄ 4H₂O 
Fortschritte der Mineralogie 59(1), 102–103 (1981).

K. D. Kreuer, W. Weppner, and A. Rabenau 
Proton Conduction in Zeolites 
Materials Research Bulletin 17, 501–509 (1982). 
DOI: 10.1016/0025-5408(82)90106-4

K. D. Kreuer, I. Stoll, and A. Rabenau 
Proton Conductivity of H₃OUO₂ AsO₄ 3H₂O (HUAs) under Pressure Indication for Transition from Vehicle Mechanism to Grotthuss Mechanism 
Solid State Ionics 9–10(Part 2), 1061–10645 (1983). 
DOI: 10.1016/0167-2738(83)90131-5