Abstract
Rapid dynamics and remarkable proton conduction induced by confined
water in nanospaces have attracted much attentions from researchers,
which is crucial for advancing the development of innovative proton
conductors and deepening comprehension of proton and water transport
mechanisms within biological systems. In this aspect, carbon nanotubes
(CNTs) are frequently employed as a research platform. However, they
possess certain limitations, such as their inherent electronic
conductivity and extreme hydrophobicity, which can impede the accurate
assessment and precise regulation of proton conduction. We herein
prepared two 2D COFs with different hydrophilic fragment, and obtains
maximum acid-free proton conductivity of 3.04×10-4 S cm-1 at 70 °C and
100% RH with Grotthuss type activation energy of 0.14 eV. This is
mainly due to that the water molecules in the center of channel form
strong hydrogen bonds, enhancing proton dissociation and guiding fast
directional diffusion.