Proton conduction of core-shell composite particles with heterointerface structure

Abstract

Thermally and chemically stable phenylsilsesquioxane (PhSiO3/2) particles were prepared by sol-gel process, and a highly proton conducting oxide-nanocluster of phosphotungstic acid (WPA) was deposited on the PhSiO3/2 particles via layer-by-layer assembly technique. A transparent and monolithic sheet can be obtained from the resultant core-shell particles by pressing. Proton conductivity of the monolithic sample with five-layered WPA was about 10- 3 S/cm at 80 oC and 80 % relative humidity (RH).