Nonmetal Organic Frameworks Exhibit High Proton Conductivity

Abstract

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Porous materials, such as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and porous organic salts, are promising materials for proton conduction. Recently, we developed a new subclass of porous materials, isoreticular nonmetal organic frameworks (N-MOFs), which can be designed using crystal structure prediction (CSP). Here, two porous, isostructural, and water-stable halide N-MOFs were prepared and found to show good proton conductivity of up to 1.1 × 10 –1 S cm –1 at 70 °C and 90% relative humidity. Changing the halides in these N-MOF materials affects the resulting proton conductivity, as observed in previous studies involving MOFs and lead halides. Although this is the first study of proton conductivity in N-MOFs, the bromide salt, TTBT.Br, shows a higher conductivity than most polycrystalline MOFs and porous organic salts, approaching that of Nafion.