Synthesis and proton-conducting performance of crystalline hydrogen-bonded organic networks

Abstract Two new hydrogen-bonded organic networks (HONs) were successfully synthesized by using 1,5-naphthalenedisulfonic acid and 4,4′-dipyridyl or 1,2-ethanedisulfonic acid and piperazine via conventional aqueous solution volatilization method. The rich hydrogen bonds through acid-base pairs existing in the networks could construct continuous proton-conducting pathways, so the two HONs exhibited highest conductivity of 6.05 ​× ​10−3 ​S ​cm−1 and 5.76 ​× ​10−3 ​S ​cm−1 at 60 ​°C and 97% RH, and the proton transport were mainly dominated by Grotthuss mechanism.