Fast proton-conducting P2O5–ZrO2–SiO2 glasses

Fast proton-conducting P2O5–ZrO2–2SiO2 glasses were successfully prepared by the hydrolysis of metal alkoxides. The glasses obtained by heating at 150 to 400 °C are chemically stable and exhibit high conductivities of ∼104 S/cm at room temperature, conductivities that are higher by ∼4 order than that of glasses containing no P2O5. These high conductivities were regarded as the fast proton transfer accelerated by molecular water bonded with POH groups. These glasses have a high potential for practical applications.