Achieving Highly Stable and High-Performance Proton Conductive Covalent Organic Frameworks via Chemical
Zhongcheng Guo1, Shuailong Zhang1, Wenzhuo Gao1
1College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, P. R. China.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|December 5, 2025
Summary
This study introduces stable, functionalized covalent organic frameworks (COFs) for enhanced proton conduction. Modified COFs show improved conductivity and structural integrity, offering a promising alternative to guest-loading strategies.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are explored for proton conduction, but current methods face challenges.
- Loading guest molecules into COFs leads to inconsistent loading and leaching.
- Imine-linked COFs lack stability during post-synthetic modification (PSM).
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop stable COFs with improved proton conductivity.
- To overcome limitations of guest-loading strategies and imine-linked COF instability.
- To investigate the impact of functional group modification on COF properties.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized COF-316 with stable aromatic ether linkages.
- Modified the nitrile group of COF-316 via PSM to carboxyl (316-COOH) and amide (316-AM) groups.
- Evaluated structural integrity, water adsorption, and proton conductivity of modified COFs.
Main Results:
- Modified COFs (316-COOH, 316-AM) maintained structural integrity.
- Enhanced water vapor adsorption capacity was observed in modified COFs.
- 316-AM exhibited a high proton conductivity of 2.55 × 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ at 100°C and 98% RH.
Conclusions:
- Functional group engineering via PSM is effective for creating stable, high-performance COF proton conductors.
- Aromatic ether linkages enhance COF stability compared to imine linkages.
- This work offers insights into designing advanced COF-based proton conductors.
