ORMOLYTEs (ORganically MOdified ceramic electroLYTEs) : solid state protonic conductors by the sol-gel process

Abstract

Photonic conductive polymers have been synthesized by the sol-gel process. The materials are obtained by hydrolysis and condensation of amino alkyl trimethoxysilane, with dissolved CF3SO3H as proton donor. The influence of the alkylamine chain on hydrolysis and condensation and on the properties of the final material has been studied. These materials are obtained in the form of transparent films, which are amorphous, hard and non-porous., with densities around 1.3 g cm-³. The materials are stable in air up to 220°C. The ionic conductivity reaches from about 3 x 10-5 Ω -1 cm -1 at room temperature to about 10-² Ω -1 at 120°C with a 1.2 V stability window.