Heterogeneous hybrid of propyl amino functionalized MCM-41 and 1H-1,2,4-triazole for high efficient intermediate temperature proton conductor

In this study, we introduced 1H-1,2,4-triazole into the ordered nanochannels of propyl amino functioned MCM-41 and then investigated the hybrids' proton conducting performance. A high proton conductivity of 8.34 × 10−3 S cm−1 has been obtained at 120 °C, with 5 mol% mole ratio of dangling propyl amino and fully loaded 1H-1,2,4-triazole in the silica. The activation energy is 0.55 eV and 1.303 eV in the temperature range below and above 80 °C respectively, indicating that the charge transfer mechanism of the material involved both vehicle and Grotthuss process. The above results showed that loading of 1-H-1,2,4-triazole molecules into silica's ordered mesopores is a good strategy for excellent proton conductivity under intermediate temperature.