Field effect transistor based on proton conductive metal organic framework (CuBTC)

Abstract

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline materials with ultrahigh porosity and tunable physico-chemical properties. But most MOFs are electrical insulators which restricts their use in electronic devices. In the present study, a field effect transistor (FET) based on a proton-conductive MOF was investigated. Imidazole was used as a proton conductor to increase the conductivity of the copper benzene tricarboxylate (CuBTC) MOF and, further, it was used to develop the FET. The CuBTC was synthesized using the traditional solvothermal method. The proton-conductive MOF was synthesized by post-modification of the CuBTC via the pore filling method using imidazole molecules, which achieved a proton conductivity of ~1.04 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 70 °C (anhydrous conditions). The proton conductive MOF was characterized by various techniques; spectroscopically by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray absorption spectroscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, alternating current (a.c.) impedance spectroscopy; thermally using thermogravimetric analysis; structurally using powder x-ray diffraction; morphologically using field emission scanning electron microscopy; electrically by FETs.