Protonic Conduction in P2O5-SiO2 Glasses Prepared by Sol-Gel Method

Protonic conduction in 10P2O5·90SiO2 and 20P2O5·80SiO2 (mol %) glasses prepared by sol-gel processing was investigated as a function of the content of molecular water adsorbed in the pores. The results show that the electrical conductivity of the glasses containing adsorbed molecular water varies exponentially with the reciprocal absolute temperature and increases with the increase of the content of the adsorbed molecular water. The double-bonded oxygen and the high affinity of phosphorus for oxygen make protons easily to release and transfer, which is favorable to the protonic conductivity.