High Proton Conduction in Two Co^II and Mn^II Anionic Metal–Organic Frameworks Derived from 1,3,5-Benzenetricarboxylic Acid

Abstract

Isostructural CoII and MnII organic frameworks with anionic frameworks and counterions (Me2NH2)+, namely {[M2Cl2(BTC)4/3]·(Me2NH2)+2·4/3H2O}n (M = Co (1) and Mn (2)), have been constructed by one-pot synthesis. Complexes 1 and 2 take paddle-wheel-like dinuclear metal cluster-based three-dimensional structures. Thermogravimetric analysis and variable-temperature powder X-ray diffraction spectra suggested that 1 displays better thermal stability than 2. Both exhibit relatively high proton conductivities at 65% relative humidity (RH) and room temperature (σ > 2.5 × 10–4 S cm–1); however, complex 1 possesses the better cycling capability and stability with Ea = 0.21 eV under 65% RH.