Transparent proton transport through a two-dimensional nanomesh material

Jiyu Xu, Hongyu Jiang, Yutian Shen, Xin-Zheng Li, E. G. Wang () and Sheng Meng ()
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Jiyu Xu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Hongyu Jiang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yutian Shen: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xin-Zheng Li: Peking University
E. G. Wang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Sheng Meng: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Molecular sieving is of great importance to proton exchange in fuel cells, water desalination, and gas separation. Two-dimensional crystals emerge as superior materials showing desirable molecular permeability and selectivity. Here we demonstrate that a graphdiyne membrane, an experimentally fabricated member in the graphyne family, shows superior proton conductivity and perfect selectivity thanks to its intrinsic nanomesh structure. The trans-membrane hydrogen bonds across graphdiyne serve as ideal channels for proton transport in Grotthuss mechanism. The free energy barrier for proton transfer across graphdiyne is ~2.4 kJ mol−1, nearly identical to that in bulk water (2.1 kJ mol−1), enabling “transparent” proton transport at room temperature. This results in a proton conductivity of 0.6 S cm−1 for graphdiyne, four orders of magnitude greater than graphene. Considering its ultimate pore size of 0.55 nm, graphdiyne membrane blocks soluble fuel molecules and exhibits superior proton selectivity. These advantages endow graphdiyne a great potential as proton exchange material.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11899-y

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