Fast-proton transport in hydrazine sulphate. I. Coulometric, conductivity and optical studies

Proton mobility has been established in solid hydrazine sulphate through coulometric, conductivity, IR, DSC and TGA studies. The electrical conductivity has been measured on pressed pellets in the frequency range from 100 Hz to 100 kHz in the temperature range 300-500K. The frequency dependence of the conductivity has been explained on the basis of a 'variable-potential-barrier' model. The DC conductivity has been estimated from the complex admittance (B-G) plots. The sigma against 1/T curves show a sudden increase in conductivity at about 480K which has been attributed to a structural phase transition. A possible mechanism for proton transport has also been suggested and discussed vis-a-vis NMR studies reported in part II of this paper.