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Updated: Nov 26, 2025

Author Spotlight: Functionalizing Metal-Organic Frameworks: Advancements, Challenges, and the Power of Post-Synthetic Ligand Exchange
Published on: June 23, 2023
Enhanced proton conductivity in a flexible metal-organic framework promoted by single-crystal-to-single-crystal
Xi Chen1, Zhongyue Zhang2, Jin Chen1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. Sihai.Yang@manchester.ac.uk M.Schroder@manchester.ac.uk.
Abstract:
MFM-722(Pb)-DMA undergoes a single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformation to give MFM-722(Pb)-H2O via ligand substitution upon exposure to water vapour. In situ single crystal impedance spectroscopy reveals an increase in proton conductivity due to this structural transition, with MFM-722(Pb)-H2O showing a proton conductivity of 6.61 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 50 °C and 98% RH. The low activation energy (Ea = 0.21 eV) indicates that the proton conduction follows a Grotthuss mechanism.
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