Chapter 15: Metal Organophosphonate Proton Conductors Check Access

New ion conducting materials have major applications in new energy technologies. Foremost among these are applications as proton-conducting electrolyte membranes in hydrogen and direct methanol fuel cells and Li ion conductors for batteries. Significant challenges confront candidates for these membranes collectively, with the goal of better cost efficiencies. The membranes for proton exchange membrane and direct methanol fuel cells have traditionally been dominated by polymeric organic ionomers but examples exist of metal organophosphonate-based ion conductors. Recent works have also shown the potential of metal organic frameworks to be high temperature proton conductors. The phosphonate group offers both highly robust materials upon metal coordination and an amphoteric nature, both well suited to desirable electrolyte membranes.

This chapter will present an overview of metal organophosphonate ion conducting materials, covering layered and non-layered as well as crystalline and non-crystalline materials. This content will be merged with discussion on the desirable properties for energy materials applications. Finally, a commentary will be provided on a future prospectus for phosphonate MOF electrolytes.