# A Luminescent Proton Conductor Based on Dy2 SMM

## TL;DR

A new material combining light emission, magnetic properties, and proton conduction is developed for potential use in advanced technologies.

## Contribution

A multifunctional material with photoluminescence, single-molecule magnet behavior, and proton conduction is synthesized and characterized.

## Key findings

- The compound [Dy2(1-tza)4(phen)4]∙(ClO4)2∙(H2O)2 exhibits strong room-temperature DyIII emissions.
- It shows single-molecule magnet behavior and moderate proton conductivity of 4.00 × 10−6 S cm−1 at 37 °C and 100% humidity.
- The proton conductivity is attributed to a 1D-extended hydrogen-bond network within the material's structure.

## Abstract

Multifunctional materials bearing photoluminescence, single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior, and proton conduction have been particularly attractive for various promising applications in optics, molecular spintronics, high-density data storage, and fuel cells. However, these kinds of multifunctional systems have rarely been reported. Herein, a DyIII-SMM together with luminescent and proton-conducting properties, [Dy2(1-tza)4(phen)4]∙(ClO4)2∙(H2O)2 (1, 1-tza = 2-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)acetic, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), was prepared and structurally characterized. Complex 1 features a dinuclear structure bridged by carboxylate oxygen atoms of the 1-tza− ligands, and its supramolecular network contains a 1D stacking channel. Complex 1 exhibits strong room-temperature DyIII characteristic emissions and SMM behaviors. In addition, complex 1 shows a moderate proton conductivity with 4.00 × 10−6 S cm−1 at 37 °C and 100% R.H. (R.H. = Relative Humidity), which may be ascribed to the 1D-extended H-bonds in the 1D stacking channel of 1.