Research Progress on Metal Organic Frameworks Proton Conductor and Their Applications in Proton Exchange Membranes.

Proton exchange membranes (PEMs) have key functions in fuel cells. They separate the cathode and anode, provide channel for proton transport, and block the fuel permeation in the battery. Perfluorosulfonic acid membrane like Nafion has excellent chemical stability, thermal stability, and high proton conductivity. However, it also has problems such as high cost, poor mechanical performance and low proton conductivity at high temperatures, and easy degradation. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are attractive candidates for PEMs due to their high porosity, large specific surface area and controllable internal channels. MOFs have been used as proton conductors directly, or to modify and improve the existing ionic polymer PEMs, and a series of important progresses have been achieved. In this paper, four common proton conduction modes of MOFs structure proton conductors are reviewed, and the related studies of MOFs in different types of ionic polymer composite PEMs are summarized. Moreover, current issues on MOFs proton conductors and their PEMs are pointed out, which provides references and ideas for the development and application of MOFs as PEMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]