Iodine uptake and enhanced electrical conductivity in a porous coordination polymer based on cucurbit[6]uril

Abstract

A porous coordination polymer [(Na₂I₂CB[6])·8H₂O]_n (complex 1; CB[6] = cucurbit[6]uril), which absorbs gaseous iodine molecules and forms a polyiodide containing material I₂@1, has been prepared and used as an absorbent for iodine uptake. The formation of halogen bonds between discrete iodide ions and iodine molecules has been demonstrated as predominant driving forces for iodine adsorption. Moreover, complex 1 demonstrates enhanced electrical conductivity upon iodine uptake, thanks to the formation of the polyiodide structure. This observation indicates that the discrete iodide matrix in the crystal lattice is an ideal and preferential molecular dock for iodine accommodation.

The collaboration between the Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter (FJIRSM) Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and the University of Nottingham (UoN) has been initiated through an International Exchange Scheme (2011 China Costshare project) cofunded by the National Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Royal Society (RS). A following research grant from the RS and Sino-British Fellowship Trust (SBFT) has been offered to further consolidate the collaborative research between the two parties (2012 and 2013). More recently, the active and fruitful collaboration of FJIRSM (CAS) and UoN has been rewarded by a successful Key International Collaboration Scheme from NSFC (2014–2018). This contribution dedicated to “Sino-European” collaboration themed collection has been a snapshot of the collaborative research projects based on crystalline porous molecular materials and their applications in molecular storage & separation and beyond.