In this review the phenomenon of proton conductivity in materials
and the elements of
proton conduction mechanismsproton transfer, structural
reorganization and diffusional
motion of extended moietiesare discussed with special emphasis on
proton chemistry. This
is characterized by a strong proton localization within the valence
electron density of
electronegative species (e.g., oxygen, nitrogen) and self-localization
effects due to solvent
interactions which allows for significant proton diffusivities only
when assisted by the
dynamics of the proton environment in Grotthuss and vehicle type
mechanisms. In systems
with high proton density, proton/proton interactions lead to proton
ordering below first-order phase transition rather than to coherent proton transfers along
extended hydrogen-bond chains as is frequently suggested in textbooks of physical
chemistry. There is no
indication for significant proton tunneling in fast proton conduction
phenomena for which
almost barrierless proton transfer is suggested to occur. Models
of proton conductivity are
applied to specific compounds comprising oxides, phosphates, sulfates,
and water-containing
systems. The importance of proton conductivity is emphasized for
biological systems and
in devices such as fuel cells, electrochemical sensors, electrochemical
reactors, and electrochromic devices.