Microporous Organic Polymers: A Synthetic Platform for Engineering Heterogeneous Carbocatalysts

The conceptual, bottom-up design of functional carbon materials from microporous organic polymers was investigated. Owing to their structural rigidity and synthetic flexibility, the porous polymers streamlined the thermal carbonization process while excluding the need for exogenous additives or extra synthesis procedures and allowed for simultaneous elemental engineering of the resultant carbonaceous materials. As designed, heteroatoms such as nitrogen and sulfur could be uniformly incorporated into the carbon matrices from the microporous polymers during thermal carbonization with a concomitant change in the macroscopic properties of the materials. In particular, doping with sulfur atoms could provide reactive sites, thereby conferring superior catalytic performance to the carbon materials. This study demonstrates expansion of the capability of microporous polymers as a functional carbon source and advances the synthetic concept for carbonaceous materials.

More Sustainable Chemical Activation Strategies for the Production of Porous Carbons

The preparation of porous carbons attracts a great deal of attention given the importance of these materials in many emerging applications, such as hydrogen storage, CO₂ capture, and energy storage in supercapacitors and batteries. In particular, porous carbons produced by applying chemical activation methods are preferred because of the high pore development achieved. However, given the environmental risks associated with conventional activating agents such as KOH, the development of greener chemical activation methodologies is an important objective. This Review summarizes recent progress in the production of porous carbons by using more sustainable strategies based on chemical activation. The use of less-corrosive chemical agents as an alternative to KOH is thoroughly reviewed. In addition, progress achieved to date by using emerging self-activation methodologies applied to organic salts and biomass products is also discussed.

One-Step Room-Temperature Synthesis of Metal(IV) Carboxylate Metal-Organic Frameworks

Room-temperature syntheses of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are of interest to meet the demand of the sustainable chemistry and are a pre-requisite for the incorporation of functional compounds in water-stable MOFs. However, only few routes under ambient conditions have been reported to produce metal(IV)-based MOFs. Reported here is a new versatile one-step synthesis of a series of highly porous M₆ -oxocluster-based MOFs (M=Zr, Hf, Ce) at room temperature, including 8- or 12-connected micro/mesoporous solids with different functionalized organic ligands. The compounds show varying degrees of defects, particularly for 12-connected phases, while maintaining the chemical stability of the parent MOFs. Proposed here are first insights into in situ kinetics observations for efficient MOF preparation. Remarkably, the synthesis has a high space-time yield and also provides the possibility to tune the particle size, therefore paving the way for their practical use.

Modulating Hierarchical Micro/Mesoporosity by a Mixed Solvent Approach in Al-MOF: Stabilization of MAPbBr3 Quantum Dots

Various hierarchical micro/mesoporous MOFs based on {[Al(μ-OH)(1,4-NDC)]⋅H₂ O} (MOF1) with tunable porosities (pore volume and surface area) have been synthesized by assembling Al^III and 1,4-NDC (1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylate) under microwave irradiation by varying water/ethanol solvent ratio. Water/ethanol mixture has played a crucial role in the mesopore generation in MOF1M₂₅ , MOF1M₅₀ , and MOF1M₇₅ , which is achieved by in situ formation of water/ethanol clusters. By adjusting the ratio of water/ethanol, the particle size, surface area and micro/mesopore volume fraction of the MOFs are controlled. Furthermore, reaction time plays a critical role in mesopore formation as realized by varying reaction time for the MOF with 50 % ethanol (MOF1M₅₀ ). Additionally, hierarchical MOF (MOF1M₅₀ ) has been used as a template for the stabilization of MAPbBr₃ (MA=methylammonium) perovskite quantum dots (PQDs). MAPbBr₃ PQDs are grown inside MOF1M₅₀ , where mesopores control the size of PQDs which leads to quantum confinement.

Crystalline Naphthylene Macrocycles Capturing Gaseous Small Molecules in Chiral Nanopores

A series of chiral naphthylene macrocycles, [n]cyclo-epi-naphthylenes ([n]CeNAPs), possessing epi-linkages were synthesized by one-pot macrocyclization. With chiral (R)- or (S)-1,1'-linkages embedded in binaphthyl precursors, the macrocycles were assembled in polygonal structures possessing chiral hinges as corners. Among four chiral [n]CeNAP variants, [8]CeNAP with eight naphthylene panels formed robust columnar assemblies in crystals. The nanoporous crystals maintained a columnar assembly structure even after the removal of encapsulated solvent molecules, and their gas adsorption behavior was thoroughly investigated. Gas adsorption, including state-of-the-art in situ crystallographic analyses, revealed accurate atomic-level structures of the nanopores trapping gaseous N₂ molecules in chiral C₂ arrangements. With macrocycles as basic frameworks, functional nanopores may be exploited for chiral small-molecule alignments.

A Toroidal Zr70 Oxysulfate Cluster and Its Diverse Packing Structures

Herein, we report the discovery of a toroidal inorganic cluster of zirconium(IV) oxysulfate of unprecedented size with the formula Zr₇₀(SO₄)₅₈(O/OH)₁₄₆⋅x(H₂O) (Zr₇₀), which displays different packing of ring units and thus several polymorphic crystal structures. The ring measures over 3 nm across, has an inner cavity of 1 nm and displays a pseudo‐10‐fold rotational symmetry of Zr₆ octahedra bridged by an additional Zr in the outer rim of the ring. Depending on the co‐crystallizing species, the rings form various crystalline phases in which the torus units are connected in extended chain and network structures. One phase, in which the ring units are arranged in layers and form one‐dimensional channels, displays high permanent porosity (BET surface area: 241 m² g⁻¹), and thus demonstrates a functional property for potential use in, for example, adsorption or heterogeneous catalysis.

Propyne Gas Adsorption in a Cyclic Hexapeptoid: A Combined In Situ XRPD and DFTB Study*

Cyclic peptoids are macrocyclic N-substituted oligoglycines, with remarkable structural, chemical and physical properties. The gas adsorption properties of a permanently porous hexameric cyclopeptoid decorated with four propargyl and two methoxyethyl side chains were monitored by in situ X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). High-resolution XRPD data together with Rietveld and density functional based tight binding (DFTB) method allowed us to locate propyne guest molecules inside the host channels, even though the powder sample contains more than one phase. We were able to characterize the host-guest interactions, providing useful information on the host recognition sites and discuss host adaptiveness and host-guest chemical affinity in comparison with analogous compounds.

Recent Advances of Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy for Microporous Materials

Microporous materials have attracted a rapid growth of research interest in materials science and the multidisciplinary area because of their wide applications in catalysis, separation, ion exchange, gas storage, drug release, and sensing. A fundamental understanding of their diverse structures and properties is crucial for rational design of high-performance materials and technological applications in industry. Solid-state NMR (SSNMR), capable of providing atomic-level information on both structure and dynamics, is a powerful tool in the scientific exploration of solid materials. Here, advanced SSNMR instruments and methods for characterization of microporous materials are briefly described. The recent progress of the application of SSNMR for the investigation of microporous materials including zeolites, metal-organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, porous aromatic frameworks, and layered materials is discussed with representative work. The versatile SSNMR techniques provide detailed information on the local structure, dynamics, and chemical processes in the confined space of porous materials. The challenges and prospects in SSNMR study of microporous and related materials are discussed.

Growth of ZIF-8 MOF Films with Tunable Porosity by using Poly (1-vinylimidazole) Brushes as 3D Primers

This work reports on a novel and versatile approach to control the structure of metal-organic framework (MOFs) films by using polymeric brushes as 3D primers, suitable for triggering heterogeneous MOF nucleation. As a proof-of-concept, this work explores the use of poly(1-vinylimidazole) brushes primer obtained via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) for the synthesis of Zn-based ZIF-8 MOF films. By modifying the grafting density of the brushes, smooth porous films were obtained featuring inherently hydrophobic microporosity arising from ZIF-8 structure, and an additional constructional interparticle mesoporosity, which can be employed for differential adsorption of targeted adsorbates. It was found that the grafting density modulates the constructional porosity of the films obtained; higher grafting densities result in more compact structures, while lower grafting density generates increasingly inhomogeneous films with a higher proportion of interparticle constructional porosity.

A Three-Dimensional Porous Organic Semiconductor Based on Fully sp2 -Hybridized Graphitic Polymer

Dimensionality plays an important role in the charge transport properties of organic semiconductors. Although three-dimensional semiconductors, such as Si, are common in inorganic materials, imparting electrical conductivity to covalent three-dimensional organic polymers is challenging. Now, the synthesis of a three-dimensional π-conjugated porous organic polymer (3D p-POP) using catalyst-free Diels-Alder cycloaddition polymerization followed by acid-promoted aromatization is presented. With a surface area of 801 m2  g-1 , full conjugation throughout the carbon backbone, and an electrical conductivity of 6(2)×10-4  S cm-1 upon treatment with I2 vapor, the 3D p-POP is the first member of a new class of permanently porous 3D organic semiconductors.

An Upgraded "Two-in-One" Strategy toward Highly Crystalline Covalent Organic Frameworks

A highly crystalline bicarbazole-based covalent organic framework (BCzP-COF) was synthesized via an upgraded "two-in-one" strategy by the self-polycondensation of A₂ B₂ monomer with two neopentyl acetal and two amine groups. Such a strategy is propitious to afford higher crystallinity, larger special surface areas and better morphology than that of using unprotected monomer with free aldehydes and amines. Additionally, the off-white powder of BCzP-COF could serve as acidichromism sensor with a significant color change. Intriguingly, the conductivity of the protonated BCzP-COF can improve by six orders of magnitude compared to that of the pristine samples. This work has the potential to lead to bicarbazole-functional materials for chemosensors and electronic devices.

High-performance of activated biocarbon based on agricultural biomass waste applied for 2,4-D herbicide removing from water: adsorption, kinetic and thermodynamic assessments

Activated biocarbons were prepared using biomass wastes: sugarcane bagasse, coconut shell and endocarp of babassu coconut; as a renewable source of low-cost raw materials and without prior treatments. These activated biocarbons were characterized by textural analysis, solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electronic microscopy. Textural analysis results revealed that those activated biocarbons were microporous, with specific surface area values of 547, 991 and 1,068 m² g^-1 from sugarcane bagasse, coconut shell and endocarp of babassu coconut, respectively. The innovation of this work was to evaluate which biomass residue was able to offer the best performance in removing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicide (2,4-D) from water by adsorption. Adsorption process of 2,4-D was investigated and the Langmuir and Redlich-Peterson models described best the adsorption process, with R² values within 0.96-0.99. The 2,4-D removal performance were 97% and 99% for the coconut and babassu biocarbons, respectively. q_M parameter values obtained from Langmuir model were 153.9, 233.0 and 235.5 mg g^-1 using sugarcane bagasse, coconut shell and endocarp of babassu, respectively. In addition, the adsorption kinetics were described nicely by the second-order model and the Gibbs free energy parameter values were negative, pointing to a spontaneous adsorption, as well.

Pyrolysis of Iron-Containing Polyanilines under Micropore Generation Control: Electrocatalytic Performance in the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Pyrolyzed iron-containing polyaniline (C-Fe-PANI) is one of the most promising candidates as a non-precious metal based electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Although the ORR activity depends on the surface area arisen from pyrolysis-generated micropores on C-Fe-PANI particles, the micropore generation is hindered by pyrolysis-formed iron nanoparticles (Fe NPs) embedded inside C-Fe-PANI particles. Here, we demonstrate the pyrolysis of iron-containing PANIs under suppression of micropore-generation hindrance by blocking the Fe NPs formation. The higher-molecular-weight (MW: 100,000) PANI was dispersed in an FeCl₃ solution before pyrolysis for preventing FeCl₃ penetration inside PANI particles. As a result, as compared to the case of lower-MW (5,000) PANI, the Fe NPs formation was more suppressed inside catalyst particles to give 1.9 (1.8) times micropore volume (specific surface area), leading to a 11 % higher current density in ORR electrocatalytic performance test in acidic media.

Fabrication of 3D-Printed Biodegradable Porous Scaffolds Combining Multi-Material Fused Deposition Modeling and Supercritical CO2 Techniques

The fabrication of porous materials for tissue engineering applications in a straightforward manner is still a current challenge. Herein, by combining the advantages of two conventional methodologies with additive manufacturing, well-defined objects with internal and external porosity were produced. First of all, multi-material fused deposition modeling (FDM) allowed us to prepare structures combining poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly (lactic acid) (PLA), thus enabling to finely tune the final mechanical properties of the printed part with modulus and strain at break varying from values observed for pure PCL (modulus 200 MPa, strain at break 1700%) and PLA (modulus 1.2 GPa and strain at break 5-7%). More interestingly, supercritical CO2 (SCCO2) as well as the breath figures mechanism (BFs) were additionally employed to produce internal (pore diameters 80-300 µm) and external pores (with sizes ranging between 2 and 12 μm) exclusively in those areas where PCL is present. This strategy will offer unique possibilities to fabricate intricate structures combining the advantages of additive manufacturing (AM) in terms of flexibility and versatility and those provided by the SCCO2 and BFs to finely tune the formation of porous structures.

Supramolecular-Macrocycle-Based Crystalline Organic Materials

Supramolecular macrocycles are well known as guest receptors in supramolecular chemistry, especially host-guest chemistry. In addition to their wide applications in host-guest chemistry and related areas, macrocycles have also been employed to construct crystalline organic materials (COMs) owing to their particular structures that combine both rigidity and adaptivity. There are two main types of supramolecular-macrocycle-based COMs: those constructed from macrocycles themselves and those prepared from macrocycles with other organic linkers. This review summarizes recent developments in supramolecular-macrocycle-based COMs, which are categorized by various types of macrocycles, including cyclodextrins, calixarenes, resorcinarenes, pyrogalloarenes, cucurbiturils, pillararenes, and others. Effort is made to focus on the structures of supramolecular-macrocycle-based COMs and their structure-function relationships. In addition, the application of supramolecular-macrocycle-based COMs in gas storage or separation, molecular separation, solid-state electrolytes, proton conduction, iodine capture, water or environmental treatment, etc., are also presented. Finally, perspectives and future challenges in the field of supramolecular-macrocycle-based COMs are discussed.

New zeolite-like RUB-5 and its related hydrous layer silicate RUB-6 structurally characterized by electron microscopy

This study made use of a recently developed combination of advanced methods to reveal the atomic structure of a disordered nanocrystalline zeolite using exit wave reconstruction, automated diffraction tomography, disorder modelling and diffraction pattern simulation. By applying these methods, it was possible to determine the so far unknown structures of the hydrous layer silicate RUB-6 and the related zeolite-like material RUB-5. The structures of RUB-5 and RUB-6 contain the same dense layer-like building units (LLBUs). In the case of RUB-5, these building units are interconnected via additional SiO4/2 tetrahedra, giving rise to a framework structure with a 2D pore system consisting of intersecting 8-ring channels. In contrast, RUB-6 contains these LLBUs as separate silicate layers terminated by silanol/sil-oxy groups. Both RUB-6 and RUB-5 show stacking disorder with intergrowths of different polymorphs. The unique structure of RUB-6, together with the possibility for an interlayer expansion reaction to form RUB-5, make it a promising candidate for interlayer expansion with various metal sources to include catalytically active reaction centres.

Observation of Ion Electrosorption in Metal-Organic Framework Micropores with In Operando Small-Angle Neutron Scattering

A molecular-level understanding of transport and adsorption mechanisms of electrolyte ions in nanoporous electrodes under applied potentials is essential to control the performance of double-layer capacitors. Here, in operando small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is used to directly detect ion movements into the nanopores of a conductive metal-organic framework (MOF) electrode under operating conditions. Neutron-scattering data reveals that most of the void space within the MOF is accessible to the solvent. Upon the addition of the electrolyte sodium triflate (NaOTf), the ions are adsorbed on the outer surface of the protrusions to form a 30 Å layer instead of entering the ionophobic pores in the absence of an applied charging potential. The changes in scattering intensity when potentials are applied suggests the ion rearrangement in the micropores following different mechanisms depending on the electrode polarization. These observations shed insights on ion electrosorption in electrode materials.

Gelless Secondary Growth of Zeolitic Aluminophosphate Membranes on Porous Supports with High Performance in CO2 /CH4 Separation

Zeolitic aluminophosphate, a three-dimensional microporous material, with an average pore size of 0.38 nm is good candidate for molecular sieve application in CO₂ gas separation. The separation of CO₂ /CH₄ gas mixtures for precombustion processes is desirable from the standpoint of both environmental concerns and energy efficiency. This study concerns an environmentally friendly method to synthesize zeolitic aluminophosphate thin films on various configurations and low-cost kaolin porous substrates with high performance in the separation of CO₂ /CH₄ mixtures. The membranes are prepared by a gelless seed growth method that uses lower amounts of chemicals, forms no liquid gel, chemical waste, or byproducts and generates no washing water. The obtained membranes show very high selectivity for CO₂ with a CO₂ /CH₄ separation factor above 1000 in the separation of CO₂ /CH₄ gas mixtures.

A Flexible Interpenetrated Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic Framework with High Affinity toward Ammonia

Flexible metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are highly attractive porous crystalline materials presenting structural changes when exposed to external stimuli, the mechanism of which is often difficult to glean, owing to their complex and dynamic nature. Herein, a flexible interpenetrated Zr-MOF, NU-1401, composed of rare 4-connected Zr₆ nodes and tetratopic naphthalenediimide (NDI)-based carboxylate linkers, was designed. The intra-framework pore opening deformation and inter-framework motions, when subjected to different solvent molecules, were investigated by single-crystal XRD. The distance and overlap angle between the stacked NDI pairs in the entangled structure could be finely tuned, and the interactions between NDI and solvent molecules led to solvochromism. Furthermore, the presence of electron-deficient NDI units in the linker and acid sites on the node of the interpenetrated porous structure offered high density of adsorption sites for ammonia molecules, resulting in high uptake at low pressures.

Multivariate Modulation of the Zr MOF UiO-66 for Defect-Controlled Combination Anticancer Drug Delivery

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are emerging as leading candidates for nanoscale drug delivery, as a consequence of their high drug capacities, ease of functionality, and the ability to carefully engineer key physical properties. Despite many anticancer treatment regimens consisting of a cocktail of different drugs, examples of delivery of multiple drugs from one MOF are rare, potentially hampered by difficulties in postsynthetic loading of more than one cargo molecule. Herein, we report a new strategy, multivariate modulation, which allows incorporation of up to three drugs in the Zr MOF UiO-66 by defect-loading. The drugs are added to one-pot solvothermal synthesis and are distributed throughout the MOF at defect sites by coordination to the metal clusters. This tight binding comes with retention of crystallinity and porosity, allowing a fourth drug to be postsynthetically loaded into the MOFs to yield nanoparticles loaded with cocktails of drugs that show enhancements in selective anticancer cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro. We believe that multivariate modulation is a significant advance in the application of MOFs in biomedicine, and anticipate the protocol will also be adopted in other areas of MOF chemistry, to easily produce defective MOFs with arrays of highly functionalised pores for potential application in gas separations and catalysis.

Solvent Impact on the Properties of Benchmark Metal-Organic Frameworks: Acetonitrile-Based Synthesis of CAU-10, Ce-UiO-66, and Al-MIL-53

Herein is reported the utilization of acetonitrile as a new solvent for the synthesis of the three significantly different benchmark metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) CAU-10, Ce-UiO-66, and Al-MIL-53 of idealized composition [Al(OH)(ISO)], [Ce6 O4 (OH)4 (BDC)6 ], and [Al(OH)(BDC)], respectively (ISO2- : isophthalate, BDC2- : terephthalate). Its use allowed the synthesis of Ce-UiO-66 on a gram scale. While CAU-10 and Ce-UiO-66 exhibit properties similar to those reported elsewhere for these two materials, the obtained Al-MIL-53 shows no structural flexibility upon adsorption of hydrophilic or hydrophobic guest molecules such as water and xenon and is stabilized in its large-pore form over a broad temperature range (130-450 K). The stabilization of the large-pore form of Al-MIL-53 was attributed to a high percentage of noncoordinating -COOH groups as determined by solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The defective material shows an unusually high water uptake of 310 mg g-1 within the range of 0.45 to 0.65 p/p°. In spite of showing no breathing effect upon water adsorption it exhibits distinct mechanical properties. Thus, mercury intrusion porosimetry studies revealed that the solid can be reversibly forced to breathe by applying moderate pressures (≈60 MPa).

Multi-Spectroscopic Interrogation of the Spatial Linker Distribution in Defect-Engineered Metal-Organic Framework Crystals: The [Cu3 (btc)2-x (cydc)x ] Showcase

In the past few years, defect-engineered metal-organic frameworks (DEMOFs) have been studied due to the plethora of textural, catalytic, or magnetic properties that can be enhanced by carefully introducing defect sites into the crystal lattices of MOFs. In this work, the spatial distribution of two different non-defective and defective linkers, namely 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate (BTC) and 5-cyano-1,3-benzenedicarboxylate (CYDC), respectively, has been studied in different DEMOF crystals of the HKUST-1 topology. Raman micro-spectroscopy revealed a nonhomogeneous distribution of defect sites within the [Cu3 (btc)2-x (cydc)x ] crystals, with the CYDC linker incorporated into defect-rich or defect-free areas of selected crystals. Additionally, advanced bulk techniques have shed light on the nature of the copper species, which is highly dynamic and directly affects the reactivity of the copper sites, as shown by probe molecule FTIR spectroscopy. Furthermore, electron microscopy revealed the effect of co-crystallizing CYDC and BTC on the crystal size and the formation of mesopores, further corroborated by X-ray scattering analysis. In this way we have demonstrated the necessity of utilizing micro-spectroscopy along with a whole array of bulk spectroscopic techniques to fully describe multicomponent metal-organic frameworks.

Structural Insight into Binary Protein Metal-Organic Frameworks with Ferritin Nanocages as Linkers and Nickel Clusters as Nodes

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) hold great promise for numerous applications. However, proteins, carriers of biological functions in living systems, have not yet been fully explored as building blocks for the construction of MOFs. This work presents a strategy for the fabrication of binary MOFs. Considering octahedral ferritin symmetry, four His₂ (His-His) motifs were first incorporated into the exterior surface of a ferritin nanocage near each C₄ channel, yielding protein linkers with multiple metal-binding sites (bisH-SF). Secondly, by adding nickel ions to bisH-SF solutions triggers the self-assembly of ferritin nanocages into a porous 3D crystalline MOF with designed protein lattice, where two adjacent ferritin molecules along the C₄ symmetry axes are bridged by four dinuclear or tetranuclear nickel clusters depending on Ni²⁺ concentration. This work provides a simple approach for precise control over a binary protein-metal crystalline framework, and the resulting MOFs exhibited inherent ferroxidase activity and peroxidase-like catalytic activity.

Exploring the Scope of Macrocyclic "Shoe-last" Templates in the Mechanochemical Synthesis of RHO Topology Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs)

The macrocyclic cavitand MeMeCH2 is used as a template for the mechanochemical synthesis of 0.2MeMeCH2@RHO-Zn16(Cl2Im)32 (0.2MeMeCH2@ZIF-71) and RHO-ZnBIm2 (ZIF-11) zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs). It is shown that MeMeCH2 significantly accelerates the mechanochemical synthesis, providing high porosity products (BET surface areas of 1140 m2/g and 869 m2/g, respectively). Templation of RHO-topology ZIF frameworks constructed of linkers larger than benzimidazole (HBIm) was unsuccessful. It is also shown that cavitands other than MeMeCH2-namely MeHCH2, MeiBuCH2, HPhCH2, MePhCH2, BrPhCH2, BrC5CH2-can serve as effective templates for the synthesis of x(cavitand)@RHO-ZnIm2 products. The limitations on cavitand size and shape are explored in terms of their effectiveness as templates.

Enhanced Ethanol Production from CO2 Electroreduction at Micropores in Nitrogen-Doped Mesoporous Carbon

Efficient formation of valuable multicarbon products in CO₂ electrochemical reduction is challenging, owing to the difficulty of C-C coupling. Medium micropores embedded in the channel walls of nitrogen-doped ordered mesoporous carbon are found to capably promote ethanol production from CO₂ electroreduction. By scaling up the medium micropore content, the yield of ethanol is increased to 2.3 mmol g_cat ^-1  h^-1 , far outperforming previously reported state-of-the-art electrocatalysts. The intrinsically higher activity is attributed to the desolvation effect induced by the medium micropores, facilitating the coupling reaction of C₁ intermediates to form ethanol.