Superprotonic conduction of intrinsically zwitterionic microporous polymers based on easy-to-make squaraine, croconaine and rhodizaine dyes

Porous organic polymers (POPs) have been prepared via a novel metal free polycondensation between a tritopic indole-based monomer and squaric, croconic and rhodizonic acids. Each of the three POPs exhibited high BET surface areas (331-667 m(2) g(-1)) and zwitterionic structures. Impedance measurements revealed that the intrinsic POPs were relatively weak proton conductors, with a positive correlation between the density of oxo-groups and the proton conduction. Doping the materials with LiCl vastly improved the proton conductivity up to a value of 0.54 S cm(-1) at 90 degrees C and 90% relative humidity.

Automated summary

Porous organic polymers (POPs) were prepared via a metal-free polycondensation reaction between a specific monomer and acidic substances. The study found that doping the materials can significantly improve the proton conductivity of porous organic polymers.