Polyoxometalate hybrid comb-like crosslinked polymer networks for anhydrous proton conductors

The development of proton conductors that simultaneously achieve high conductivity and mechanical resilience is critical for advancing energy devices under harsh operational environments. Polymer nanocomposites present a compelling solution to harmonize these competing demands through strategic material design. In this work, we report an anhydrous proton-conducting nanocomposite comprising a comb-like crosslinked polymer network and superacidic polyoxometalate clusters. The system utilizes poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) as a comb-like scaffold, which rapidly crosslinks with amino-terminated polyethylene glycol (PEG-BA) via a simple blending method. Concurrently, the incorporation of H₃PW₁₂O₄₀ (PW) not only acts as a proton source but also reinforces mechanical properties through interfacial interactions. The crosslinked framework provides structural stability, while the synergistic compatibility between PW and PEG-BA enables the formation of continuous proton-conduction pathways via hydrogen bonding and ionic interactions. The optimized nanocomposite achieves a proton conductivity of 8.5×10^-4 S cm^-1 at 130 °C with the highest crosslinking ratio exhibits a Young's modulus of 18.1 MPa, alongside durability over 24 hours extended operation. The modular tunability of both polymer topology and inorganic clusters positions this approach as a generalizable platform for tailoring ion transport materials, and opening new avenues for high-performance energy technologies.