Proton Conductive Supramolecular Architectures Based on a Cobalt Terpyridine–Biimidazole Complex: Hydrogen‐Bonded Hexamer and Mixed‐Valence 1D Chain

Despite extensive research on hydrogen-bonded frameworks, cobalt-based coordination complexes with biimidazole ligands remain largely unexplored, and their potential as proton-conducting materials has not been comprehensively investigated. Therefore, this paper reports the synthesis, crystal structures, and proton conduction properties of novel hydrogen-bonded cobalt(II/III) coordination complexes incorporating 2,2'-biimidazole (H₂bim) and 4'-carboxyl-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (COOH-terpy) ligands. Two supramolecular architectures were obtained via ligand exchange reactions in methanol: a hydrogen-bonded hexamer, {Co^III(COO-terpy)(H₂bim)(SCN)}₆ ([1]₆), and a mixed-valence 1D hydrogen-bonded chain, {[Co^II(COO-terpy)(H₂bim)(NCS)][Co^III(COO-terpy)(H₂bim)(SCN)]}_n ([2]_n). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that both structures feature extensive hydrogen-bonding networks involving carboxylate and H₂bim ligands, leading to unique porous architectures with 1D channels accommodating lattice solvents. Thermogravimetric and variable-temperature powder X-ray diffraction analyses demonstrated the thermal stability and reversible hydration behavior of [1]₆. AC impedance measurements under 100% relative humidity revealed high proton conductivity in [1]₆, reaching 1.0 × 10^-2 S cm^-1 at 358 K, attributable to proton transport facilitated by hydrogen-bonded networks and lattice water molecules. Activation energy analysis suggested a vehicle mechanism for proton conduction. Overall, this study highlights the potential of hydrogen-bonded cobalt complexes incorporating biimidazole ligands as promising proton-conducting materials with tunable supramolecular architectures.