High-Temperature Phase Transitions in CsH$_{2}$PO$_{4}$

ORAL

Abstract

In order to uncover the microscopic origin of the temperature-induced three-order-of-magnitude jump in the proton conductivity of CsH$_{2}$PO$_{4}$ (superprotonic behavior), its crystal structure modifications within the 25\r{ }C -300\r{ }C temperature range under both ambient- and high-pressure conditions have been investigated using synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The high-pressure data show no indication of the thermal decomposition/polymerization at the crystal surface recently proposed as the origin of the enhanced proton conductivity [Phys. Rev B \textbf{79}, 054104 (2004)]. Instead, direct evidence that the superprotonic behavior of the title material is associated with a polymorphic structural transition to a high-temperature cubic phase has been found.

*Acknowledgment is made to the Donors of the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund, as well as to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Research Corporation for support of this research.

Authors

  • Cristian Botez

    • Department of Physics, University of Texas - El Paso
  • Cristian Botez

    • Department of Physics, University of Texas - El Paso
  • Jianzhong Zhang

    • LANSCE, Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Jianzhong Zhang

    • LANSCE, Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Yusheng Zhao

    • LANSCE, Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Juraj Majzlan

    • Institute of Mineralogy and Geochemistry, University of Freiburg
  • Russell Chianelli

    • Materials Research and Technology Institute, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso TX 79968
    • Materials Research and Technology Institute, University of Texas at El Paso, TX 79968
    • Department of Chemistry, University of Texas - El Paso