Natural biomolecules have potential as proton-conducting materials, in which the hydrogen-bond networks can facilitate proton transportation. Herein, a biomolecule/metal-organic framework (MOF) approach to develop hybrid proton-conductive membranes is reported. Single-strand DNA molecules are introduced into DNA@ZIF-8 membranes through a solid-confined conversion process. The DNA-threaded ZIF-8 membrane exhibits high proton conductivity of 3.40 × 10 S cm at 25 °C and the highest one ever reported of 0.17 S cm at 75 °C, under 97% relatively humidity, attributed to the formed hydrogen-bond networks between the DNA molecules and the water molecules inside the cavities of the ZIF-8, but very low methanol permeability of 1.25 × 10 cm s due to the small pore entrance of the DNA@ZIF-8 membranes. The selectivity of the DNA@ZIF-8 membrane is thus significantly higher than that of developed proton-exchange membranes for fuel cells. After assembling the DNA@ZIF-8 hybrid membrane into direct methanol fuel cells, it exhibits a power density of 9.87 mW cm . This is the first MOF-based proton-conductivity membrane used for direct methanol fuel cells, providing bright promise for such hybrid membranes in this application.

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Solar-driven interfacial water evaporation (SDIWE) is a promising way to reduce the fresh water scarcity. However, it is still challenged to generate clean water from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contaminated...

Impregnating one denatured protein with dual color emissions in a blue metal organic framework thin film for high quality white light emission.