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    Switching the Proton Conduction in Nanoporous, Crystalline Materials by Light

    Year: 2018

    Journal: Adv. Mater., Volume 30, FEB 22

    Authors: Mueller, Kai; Helfferich, Julian; Zhao, Fangli; Verma, Rupal; Kanj, Anemar Bruno; Meded, Velimir; Bleger, David; Wenzel, Wolfgang; Heinke, Lars

    Keywords: azobenzene; metal-organic frameworks; photoswitching; proton conduction; remote control

    Proton conducting nanoporous materials attract substantial attention with respect to applications in fuel cells, supercapacitors, chemical sensors, and information processing devices inspired by biological systems. Here, a crystalline, nanoporous material which offers dynamic remote-control over the proton conduction is presented. This is realized by using surface-mounted metal-organic frameworks (SURMOFs) with azobenzene side groups that can undergo light-induced reversible isomerization between the stable trans and cis states. The trans-cis photoisomerization results in the modulation of the interaction between MOF and guest molecules, 1,4-butanediol and 1,2,3-triazole; enabling the switching between the states with significantly increased (trans) and reduced (cis) conductivity. Quantum chemical calculations show that the trans-to-cis isomerization results in the formation of stronger hydrogen bridges of the guest molecules with the azo groups, causing stronger bonding of the guest molecules and, as a result, smaller proton conductivity. It is foreseen that photoswitchable proton-conducting materials may find its application in advanced, remote-controllable chemical sensors, and a variety of devices based on the conductivity of protons or other charged molecules, which can be interfaced with biological systems.
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