Synthesis, characterization and proton transport property of crystalline - zirconium titanium phosphate, a tetravalent bimetallic acid salt

An advanced inorganic material of the class of tetravalent bimetallic acid (TBMA) salt zirconium titanium phosphate (ZTP) has been synthesized by sol gel route. ZTP has been characterized for elemental analysis by ICP-AES, FTIR, TGA and X-ray diffraction studies. Ion exchange capacity (IEC) of material was determined and effect of calcination (373-773 K) on IEC studied. Chemical resistivity of material was assessed in acids, bases and organic solvents. Protons present in structural hydroxyl groups in ZTP indicate good potential to exhibit solid-state proton conduction. Proton transport property of ZTP was explored by measuring specific conductance at different temperatures (303-423 K) at 10 K intervals, over a frequency range (1-32 MHz) at a signal level below 1 V. Proton transport properties of zirconium phosphate and titanium phosphate, synthesized and characterized under identical conditions, have been investigated for comparative studies. In all cases, conductivity decreases with increasing temperature. ZTP exhibits enhanced conductance and mechanism of transportation is proposed to be Grotthuss type.