Stimuli-responsive ion conductor materials have been highly sought after in biological systems, clean energy, and smart devices. In particular, it remains a huge challenge to achieve the acid/base switchable ion conductors due to more stringent requirements for the structural responsive behaviors, high stability and porosity. In this study, porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs) as a favorable platform have been utilized to successfully design and prepare the ion conductive powder and its continuous membrane based on a commercially available pH indicator. Interestingly, these PAFs also possesses structural reversibility in response to acidic and alkaline environments, followed by an apparent ion-conducting switch of about 4 orders of magnitude (from 3.36 × 10-7 S·cm-1 to 4.59 × 10-3 S·cm-1) under the conditions of 25 °C and 98% RH. Moreover, the continuous PAF membrane exhibit ultrahigh ion conductivity of 7.29×10-1 S·cm-1 after alkali treatment, as well as good acid/base switchable cycle stability. To our knowledge, this is the first example for exploring the ion conductive porous frameworks and continuous membranes dynamically responding on chemical acid/base stimulus. This work will provide new research strategy for the application of ion conductors as so-called “smart materials” even in extremely harsh chemical environments.
