Calix[4]resorcinarene-based [Co16] coordination cages mediated by isomorphous auxiliary ligands for enhanced proton conduction

Abstract

We herein propose a design assembly of calix[4]resorcinarene-based proton-conductive [Co₁₆] coordination cages (1-SO₃H and 1-OH) by carefully mediating the acidic sites of isomorphous auxiliary ligands. Markedly, 1-SO₃H exhibits a proton conductivity that increased about 1 order of magnitude relative to its counterpart 1-OH, reaching 1.35 × 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ at 90 °C and under 98% relative humidity.