Semiconductive and Proton-Conductive Porous Hydrogen-Bonded Frameworks

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This invention discloses a new class of hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) that are both semi-conductive (able to conduct electricity to a certain degree) and proton-conductive (able to facilitate the transfer of protons), in addition to being porous and thermally stable. These frameworks are built from organic linkers with specific functional groups (mostly based on phosphorus or arsenic chemistry) and unique geometries that enable the formation of stable hydrogen-bonded crystal networks. Notably, these HOFs, such as the example GTUB5, are metal-free, have tunable pore sizes, and show both electronic and protonic conductivities suitable for advanced applications in energy, electronics, and materials science.

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• As membranes in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), boosting efficiency and stability in fuel cell technology.
• Electrode materials in supercapacitors and electrical double layer capacitors for energy storage devices.
• Semiconductor components in thin films for electronics, optoelectronic devices, and printed electronics (such as screen printing, inkjet, flexography, etc.).
• Materials for solar cell components, including as semiconductor layers in photovoltaic devices and potential materials for perovskite solar cells.
• Active or passive components in device fabrication (e.g., thin film transistors, coils, resistors, nanowires, and wires for printed or flexible electronics).

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• Eliminates the use of toxic or heavy metals, making devices environmentally friendly and safer.
• Provides both protonic and electronic (semiconductive) conduction in a single material, reducing the need for complex composites or multilayer assemblies.
• Offers highly tunable structure: pore sizes, geometries, conductivity, and surface area can be engineered for specific applications.
• Thermally and chemically stable, even at high temperatures and humidity, leading to durable, long-lasting devices.
• Simpler chemistry compared to metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), leading to easier synthesis, purification, processability, and potentially lower costs.
• Porous and microporous nature provides high surface area, which is especially advantageous for energy storage (supercapacitors) and catalysis.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF) comprising at least one kind of organic linker with at least one functional group forming a hydrogen-bonded network, wherein the functional group comprise a hydroxyl group and a central atom of tetrahedral geometry, and wherein the HOF is semi-conductive, proton-conductive and porous, preferably microporous. In embodiments, the at least one functional group is selected from the group comprising phosphonic acid, phosphinic acid, arsonic acids, arsinic acids, phosphonate, arsonate and/or esters thereof comprising at least one hydroxylgroup. The invention further relates to a covalent organic framework (COF), characterized in that it has been generated from a HOF according to any of the preceding claims by transforming the hydrogen bonds between the functional groups into covalent anhydride bonds via a condensation reaction or reactions known to form anhydrides.