Mobility of protons in 12-phosphotungstic acid and its acid and neutral salts

The proton mobility in 12-phosphotungstic heteropolyacid (PWA) and its salts (Cs 2 HPW 12 O 40 · x H 2 O, Cs 3 PW 12 O 40 · x H 2 O, (NH 4 ) 3 PW 12 O 40 · x H 2 O) was investigated by impedance spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance with pulsed field gradient under wide range of relative humidity. Values of two diffusion components observed in PWA as well as in its acid cesium salt differ in one order of magnitude. Also there are two components in the impedance spectra of these compounds. Thus, we suggest, the proton transport take place both inside the grains and along its boundaries. Self-diffusion coefficients, observed in the neutral cesium and ammonium salts, are close to each other and equal to the fast diffusion coefficient in acid cesium salt. At the same time, there is the only relaxation component in the impedance spectra of neutral salts. Thus, it can be concluded, that in case of neutral salts of PWA, there is no proton transport inside the grains of these compounds, and their high proton conductivity caused by fast proton transport along the grain boundaries.