title: Structure-Independent Proton Transport in Cerium(III) Phosphate Nanowires.
abstract: Understanding of water-related electrical conduction is of utmost importance in applications that utilize solid-state proton conductors. However, in spite of the vast amount of theoretical and experimental work published in the literature, thus far its mechanism remained unsolved. In this study, the structure-related ambient temperature electrical conduction of one-dimensional hydrophilic nanostructures was investigated. Cerium phosphate nanowires with monoclinic and hexagonal crystal structures were synthesized via the hydrothermal and ambient temperature precipitation routes, and their structural and surface properties were examined by using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, nitrogen and water sorption, temperature-programmed ammonia desorption, and potentiometric titration techniques. The relative humidity (RH)-dependent charge-transport processes of hexagonal and monoclinic nanowires were investigated by means of impedance spectroscopy and transient ionic current measurement techniques to gain insight into their atomistic level mechanism. Although considerable differences in RH-dependent conductivity were first found, the distinct characteristics collapsed into a master curve when specific surface area and acidity were taken into account, implying structure-independent proton conduction mechanism in both types of nanowires.
authors: †Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
authors: Péter
authors: P
authors: Pusztai
authors: †Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
authors: Henrik
authors: H
authors: Haspel
authors: ‡Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Aradi Vértanúk tere 1., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
authors: Ildikó Y
authors: IY
authors: Tóth
authors: ‡Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Aradi Vértanúk tere 1., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
authors: Etelka
authors: E
authors: Tombácz
authors: §Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1521 Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Krisztina
authors: K
authors: László
authors: †Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.|∥MTA-SZTE "Lendület" Porous Nanocomposites Research Group, Rerrich Béla tér 1., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
authors: Ákos
authors: Á
authors: Kukovecz
authors: †Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.|⊥MTA-SZTE Reaction Kinetics and Surface Chemistry Research Group, Rerrich Béla tér 1., H-6720 Szeged, Hungary.
authors: Zoltán
authors: Z
authors: Kónya
keywords: cerium phosphate; fuel cell membrane; impedance spectroscopy; master curve; proton conduction; surface acidity