<p>Proton conductors play a significant role in various fields, and recent research has focused on exploring crystalline porous materials for their favourable proton-transport properties. However, synthesizing these materials often poses challenges, especially in achieving crystallinity. In this study, we have successfully developed an innovative approach by constructing an amorphous microporous polymer (AMP) structure. Unlike traditional methods that require crystallization, our AMP maintains a certain pore space, while avoiding the need for strict crystallinity. Remarkably, this newly developed AMP displays high-density sulphonic acid sites on its skeleton, enabling it to function as an efficient proton conductor across a wide range of relative humidity (RH) levels. At 70°C and 100% RH, it achieves an impressive maximum conductivity value of 3.34 × 10<sup>−3</sup> S cm<sup>−1</sup>. Such an excellent performance can be attributed to the low activation energy for proton conduction, measuring a mere 0.266 eV. This signifies a Grotthuss mechanism, indicating that protons readily jump along hydrogen bonds within the material.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

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Amorphous microporous polymer with high-density sulphonic acid for proton conduction

  • Kun Zhang,
  • Yanting Zhang,
  • Lei Wu,
  • Qingchao Liu

摘要

Proton conductors play a significant role in various fields, and recent research has focused on exploring crystalline porous materials for their favourable proton-transport properties. However, synthesizing these materials often poses challenges, especially in achieving crystallinity. In this study, we have successfully developed an innovative approach by constructing an amorphous microporous polymer (AMP) structure. Unlike traditional methods that require crystallization, our AMP maintains a certain pore space, while avoiding the need for strict crystallinity. Remarkably, this newly developed AMP displays high-density sulphonic acid sites on its skeleton, enabling it to function as an efficient proton conductor across a wide range of relative humidity (RH) levels. At 70°C and 100% RH, it achieves an impressive maximum conductivity value of 3.34 × 10−3 S cm−1. Such an excellent performance can be attributed to the low activation energy for proton conduction, measuring a mere 0.266 eV. This signifies a Grotthuss mechanism, indicating that protons readily jump along hydrogen bonds within the material.

Graphical abstract