Three layered cucurbit[6]uril-based metal–organic rotaxane networks functionalized by sulfonic groups for proton conduction.

Three new cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6])-based metal–organic rotaxane networks (MORNs) (named CUST-711, CUST-712, and CUST-713) functionalized by a sulfonic group (–SO3H) have been designed and synthesized via a hydrothermal method. All three compounds exhibited similar two-dimensional (2D) wave layer structures. Their stability under different temperature and relative humidity conditions has been investigated and all the compounds showed excellent stability. Furthermore, their proton conduction properties were also discussed in detail. Due to different structures and sulfonic group sites, the three compounds exhibited different proton conduction abilities of which CUST-712 exhibited an intrinsic relatively high proton conductivity (1.75 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 85 °C and 97% relative humidity). These results provide ideas for the design and synthesis of functional CB[6]-based metal–organic rotaxane frameworks (MORFs) as proton conducting materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]