Abstract:

Inorganic proton conductor SnP2O7 was synthesized. Its conductivity was measured from ambient temperature to 250℃ without humidification. At 170℃, a highest conductivity of 0.053 S/cm was reached for SnP2O7. Hybrid membranes of SnP2O7 with polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) or sulfonated poly (ether ether) ketone (SPEEK) were prepared with a method of membrane casting from their solutions, respectively. For the hybrid membranes containing 60wt% SnP2O7, the conductivity at 210℃ was 9.2×10-5 S/cm for SnP2O7/PVDF, and was 9.3×10-5 S/cm for SnP2O7/SPEEK with a sulfonation degree of 51%, respectively. The proton conduction mechanism of SnP2O7 as well as its hybrid membranes was discussed. The mechanical strength of the hybrid membranes was measured. The tensile strength at break of SnP2O7/PVDF membranes was much higher than that of SnP2O7/SPEEK membranes at 130℃.

Key words: inorganic proton conductor, hybrid membrane, conductivity, tensile strength