Protonic Conductivity in Imidazole Single Crystal

Abstract

Imidazole single crystal has a highly anisotropic conductivity; the ratio of conductivity in the c and a crystallographic directions is ∼103. In the c crystallographic direction, the hydrogen bonded direction, protonic carriers are discharged as hydrogen at the negative electrode. The limiting conduction process is possibly due to L-defect injection and transport back down the hydrogen bonded chain after the proton is discharged. Conductivity in the a direction is probably electronic and extrinsic.