Proton Conduction through Solid Alcohols due to Molecular Rotation

Abstract

The anomalous electric conductivity in higher normal alcohols is often attributed to the proton transfer accompanied by the rotation of molecules around their long axis. The direct experimental justification for the above idea is attempted, where results are described in the following. The gas produced as the result of the electric conduction is identified spectroscopically with hydrogen, and its amount is found to coincide with the expected value, assuming that the current is conducted, solely by protons. The effect of the added long chain compounds is observed and the result seems to be well understood on the basis of the proton-transfer-and-molecular-rotation mechanism.