High Proton Conduction in a Chiral Ferromagnetic Metal-Organic Quartz-like Framework

A complex-as-ligand strategy to get a multifunctional molecular material led to a metal-organic framework with the formula (NH4)(4)[MnCr2(ox)(6)] center dot 4H(2)O. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that the anionic bimetallic coordination network adopts a chiral three-dimensional quartz-like architecture. It hosts ammonium cations and water molecules in functionalized channels. In addition to ferromagnetic ordering below T-C = 3.0 K related to the host network, the material exhibits a very high proton conductivity of 1.1 x 10(-3) S cm(-1) at room temperature due to the guest molecules.