Insight into the High Proton Conductivity of One-/Two-Dimensional Cadmium Phosphites

The study describes the synthesis and structural attributes of two new cadmium phosphites, [Cd{OP(O)(OH)H}₂(4,4'-bipy)] (1) and [H₂pip][Cd(HPO₃)₂(H₂O)]·H₂O (2). The structure of 1 adopts a two-dimensional motif featuring alternate [Cd-μ₂-O]₂ and [Cd-O-P-O]₂-cyclic rings, while the inorganic chains are held together by 4,4'-bipyridine. The presence of strong hydrogen bonding interactions between the appended H₂PO₃ groups (O---O = 2.55 Å) provides a facile proton conduction pathway and results in a proton conductivity of 3.2 × 10^-3 S cm^-1 at 75 °C under 77% relative humidity (RH). Compound 2 comprises an anionic framework formed by vertex-shared [Cd-O-P-O]₂-cyclic rings, while the [H₂pip] cations between the adjacent chains assist a well-directed O-H---O hydrogen-bonded network between coordinated water, lattice water, and phospite groups. The bulk proton conductivity value under conditions as in 1 reaches 4.3 × 10^-1 S cm^-1. For both 1 and 2, the proton conductivity remains practically unchanged under ambient temperatures (25-35 °C), suggesting their potential in low-temperature fuel cells.

N-Methylimidazolium containing metal phosphate–oxalates: solvent-free synthesis, crystal structure, and proton conduction

Two new metal phosphate–oxalates were prepared under solvent-free conditions using N-methylimidazole as a proton carrier, and display interesting proton-conducting behaviours.

Pillared-layered indium phosphites templated by amino acids: isoreticular structures, water stability, and fluorescence

Two crystalline open-framework indium phosphites (denoted SCU-31 and SCU-32) were prepared using amino acids as structure-directing agents. They have isoreticular pillared-layered structures built up from 6 × 1 and 4 = 1 clusters. Notably, the two compounds show excellent water stability and exhibit blue fluorescence under UV light irradiation at room temperature. The proton-conducting behaviour of SCU-31 was also investigated.

Ionothermal synthesis of crystalline metal phosphites using multifunctional protic ionic liquids

A mixed-valence iron phosphite was prepared under ionothermal conditions using a protic ionic liquid as a solvent, a structure-directing agent, a phosphorus source, and a reducing agent.

Solvent-free synthesis and room temperature proton conductivity of new cobalt phosphite–oxalates

Two new cobalt phosphite–oxalates (1 and 2) have been synthesized under solvent-free conditions. Compound 2 possesses room temperature proton conductivity.