High Electrical Conductivity in Three-Dimensional Porphyrin-Phosphonate Metal Organic-Frameworks

Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a highly electrically conductive and microporous three-dimensional zinc-phosphonate metal-organic framework [Zn(Cu-p-H₄TPPA)] ⋅2 (CH₃)₂NH₂⁺ (designated as GTUB3), constructed using the 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis [p‐phenylphosphonic acid] porphyrin (p-H₈TPPA) organic linker. GTUB3 has an indirect band gap of 1.64 eV and a high average electrical conductivity of 4 S/m, making it a rare example of an electrically conductive zinc metal-organic framework. The N₂-accessible geometric surface area of GTUB3, as predicted by molecular simulations, is 671 m²/g. Owing to its simple, high-yield synthesis at low temperatures, porosity, and electrical conductivity, GTUB3 may be used as a low-cost electrode material in next generation phosphonate-supercapacitors.