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A DNA‐Threaded ZIF‐8 Membrane with High Proton Conductivity and Low Methanol Permeability
Author(s) -
Guo Yi,
Jiang Zhongqing,
Ying Wen,
Chen Liping,
Liu Yazhi,
Wang Xiaobin,
Jiang ZhongJie,
Chen Banglin,
Peng Xinsheng
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201705155
Subject(s) - membrane , materials science , conductivity , biomolecule , methanol , chemical engineering , molecule , hydrogen bond , proton , dna , methanol fuel , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , chemistry , biochemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
Natural biomolecules have potential as proton‐conducting materials, in which the hydrogen‐bond networks can facilitate proton transportation. Herein, a biomolecule/metal–organic framework (MOF) approach to develop hybrid proton‐conductive membranes is reported. Single‐strand DNA molecules are introduced into DNA@ZIF‐8 membranes through a solid‐confined conversion process. The DNA‐threaded ZIF‐8 membrane exhibits high proton conductivity of 3.40 × 10 −4 S cm −1 at 25 °C and the highest one ever reported of 0.17 S cm −1 at 75 °C, under 97% relatively humidity, attributed to the formed hydrogen‐bond networks between the DNA molecules and the water molecules inside the cavities of the ZIF‐8, but very low methanol permeability of 1.25 × 10 −8 cm 2 s −1 due to the small pore entrance of the DNA@ZIF‐8 membranes. The selectivity of the DNA@ZIF‐8 membrane is thus significantly higher than that of developed proton‐exchange membranes for fuel cells. After assembling the DNA@ZIF‐8 hybrid membrane into direct methanol fuel cells, it exhibits a power density of 9.87 mW cm −2 . This is the first MOF‐based proton‐conductivity membrane used for direct methanol fuel cells, providing bright promise for such hybrid membranes in this application.