Proton conductors in liquid form

Abstract

The invention is a proton conductor in liquid form, comprising a mixture of the following components: (a) an acid addition salt of a nitrogen base, having the formula: ##STR1## wherein: Z.sub.1, Z.sub.2, Z.sub.3 and Z.sub.4, identical or different, each represent a group --N.dbd. or --C(Y.sub.i).dbd. in which Y.sub.i represents a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a fluoroalkyl radical having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or an oxoalkyl or azaalkyl radical having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, with the proviso that at least one and at most two of the groups Z.sub.1, Z.sub.2, Z.sub.3 and Z.sub.4 represents --N.dbd., two adjacent carbon atoms being optionally hydrogenated and the nitrogen base optionally being part of a polymeric network, and X.sup.- represents an anion derived from an acid selected from the group consisting of sulfonic acids of formula R.sub.F SO.sub.3 H, sulfonimides of formula (R.sub.F SO.sub.2) (R'.sub.F SO.sub.2)NH and methylides of formula (R.sub.F SO.sub.2) (R'.sub.F SO.sub.2) CH.sub.2 or (R.sub.F S.sub.2) (R'.sub.F SO.sub.2) (R".sub.F SO.sub.2)CH, in which R.sub.F, R'.sub.F and R".sub.F each represents a radical F(CF.sub.2).sub.n --, n being comprised between 0 and 6, the acid optionally being part of a polymeric network; and (b) a nitrogen base having the formula: ##STR2## in which Z.sub.1, Z.sub.2, Z.sub.3 and Z.sub.4 have the aforesaid meanings, the nitrogen base optionally being part of a polymeric network; components (a) and (b) being present in proportions to form a composition having a melting point lower than 25.degree. C. The proton conductor is useful as an electrolyte in various electrochemical systems.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.