Proton-conducting materials based on heteropoly acid and matrixes

•POM-based hybrid materials, P2W17In/PVP and P2W17In/PVP/SiO2, are prepared.•Their conductivities are 1.70 × 10− 3 and 1.82 × 10− 3 S·cm− 1 at 18 °C with 70% humidity.•Their activation energies of conduction are 8.80 and 15.53 kJ·mol− 1.•The conduction mechanism of P2W17In/PVP is Grotthuss mechanism.•The conduction mechanism of P2W17In/PVP/SiO2 is Grotthuss-dominant mixing mechanism.

Hybrid polyoxometalate-based inorganic–organic proton conductors formed through Dawson structure heptadecatungstodiphosphoindic heteropoly acid (P2W17In), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and silica gel (SiO2), P2W17In/PVP and P2W17In/PVP/SiO2, have been investigated. These hybrid materials are characterized by IR, XRD and electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS). The results reveal that, at room temperature (18 °C), and 70% relative humidity (RH), the conductivities of hybrid materials are 1.70 × 10− 3 S·cm− 1 and 1.82 × 10− 3 S·cm− 1, respectively. Their activation energy values are 8.80 kJ·mol− 1 and 15.53 kJ·mol− 1. Their mechanisms of proton conduction are also proposed.