Mechanochemically synthesized CsH2PO4-H3PW12O40 composites as proton-conducting electrolytes for fuel cell systems in a dry atmosphere.

Cesium dihydrogen phosphate (CsH2PO4, CDP) and dodecaphosphotungstic acid (H3PW12O40·nH2O, WPA·nH2O) were mechanochemically milled to synthesize CDP-WPA composites. The ionic conductivities of these composites were measured by an ac impedance method under anhydrous conditions. Despite the synthesis temperatures being much lower than the dehydration and phase-transition temperatures of CDP under anhydrous conditions, the ionic conductivities of the studied composites increased significantly. The highest ionic conductivity of 6.58×10-4 Scm-1 was achieved for the 95CDP·5WPA composite electrolyte at 170 °C under anhydrous conditions. The ionic conduction was probably induced in the percolated interfacial phase between CDP and WPA. The phenomenon of high ionic conduction differs for the CDP-WPA composite and pure CDP or pure WPA under anhydrous conditions. The newly developed hydrogen interaction between CDP and WPA supports anhydrous proton conduction in the composites.