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Thermally triggered polyrotaxane translational motion helps proton transfer

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaolin Ge

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Yubin He

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Xian Liang

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Liang Wu

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Yuan Zhu

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Zhengjin Yang

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Min Hu

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Tongwen Xu

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

Abstract

Synthetic polyelectrolytes, capable of fast transporting protons, represent a challenging target for membrane engineering in so many fields, for example, fuel cells, redox flow batteries, etc. Inspired by the fast advance in molecular machines, here we report a rotaxane based polymer entity assembled via host–guest interaction and prove that by exploiting the thermally triggered translational motion (although not in a controlled manner) of mechanically bonded rotaxane, exceptionally fast proton transfer can be fulfilled at an external thermal input. The relative motion of the sulfonated axle to the ring in rotaxane happens at ~60 °C in our cases and because of that a proton conductivity (indicating proton transfer rate) of 260.2 mS cm−1, which is much higher than that in the state-of-the-art Nafion, is obtained at a relatively low ion-exchange capacity (representing the amount of proton transfer groups) of 0.73 mmol g−1.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaolin Ge & Yubin He & Xian Liang & Liang Wu & Yuan Zhu & Zhengjin Yang & Min Hu & Tongwen Xu, 2018. "Thermally triggered polyrotaxane translational motion helps proton transfer," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-04733-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04733-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Benbing Shi & Xiao Pang & Shunning Li & Hong Wu & Jianliang Shen & Xiaoyao Wang & Chunyang Fan & Li Cao & Tianhao Zhu & Ming Qiu & Zhuoyu Yin & Yan Kong & Yiqin Liu & Mingzheng Zhang & Yawei Liu & Fen, 2022. "Short hydrogen-bond network confined on COF surfaces enables ultrahigh proton conductivity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.

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