Fused aromatic networks (FANs) have been studied in efforts to overcome the low physicochemical stability of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), while preserving crystallinity. Herein, we describe the synthesis of a highly stable and crystalline FAN (denoted as Pz-FAN) using pyrazine-based building blocks to form porphyrazine (Pz) linkages via an irreversible reaction. Unlike most COFs and FANs, which are synthesized from two different building blocks, the new Pz-FAN is formed using a single building block by self-cyclotetramerization. Controlled and optimized reaction conditions result in a highly crystalline Pz-FAN with physicochemical stability. The newly prepared Pz-FAN displayed a high magnitude (1.16×10-2 S cm-1 ) of proton conductivity compared to other reported FANs and polymers. Finally, the Pz-FAN-based membrane was evaluated for a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), which showed maximum power and current densities of 192 mW cm-2 and 481 mA cm-2 , respectively.
Keywords: Covalent Organic Frameworks; Fused Aromatic Networks; Nafion; Porphyrazine; Proton Conductivity.
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