Ultra-fast Proton Conduction and Photocatalytic Water Splitting in a Pillared Metal–Organic Framework
Jin Chen, Bing An, Yinlin Chen, Xue Han, Qingqing Mei, Meng He, Yongqiang Cheng, Íñigo J. Vitórica‐Yrezábal, Louise S. Natrajan, Daniel Lee, Anibal J. Ramirez‐Cuesta, Sihai Yang⧫, Martin Schröder
Abstract
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells enable the portable utilization of hydrogen (H 2 ) as an energy resource. Current electrolytic materials have limitation, and there is an urgent need to develop new materials showing especially high proton conductivity. Here, we report the ultra-fast proton conduction in a novel metal–organic framework, MFM-808, which adopts an unprecedented topology and a unique structure consisting of two-dimensional layers of {Zr 6 }-clusters. By replacing the bridging formate with sulfate ligands within {Zr 6 }-layers, the modified MFM-808-SO 4 exhibits an exceptional proton conductivity of 0.21 S·cm –1 at 85 °C and 99% relative humidity. Modeling by molecular dynamics confirms that proton transfer is promoted by an efficient two-dimensional conducting network assembled by sulfate–{Zr 6 }-layers. MFM-808-SO 4 also possesses excellent photocatalytic activity for water splitting to produce H 2, paving a new pathway to achieve a renewable hydrogen-energy cycle.