Creating Optimal Pockets in a Clathrochelate-Based Metal-Organic Framework for Gas Adsorption and Separation: Experimental and Computational Studies

Fe Wire-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks for Advanced Gas and Vapor Adsorption: Effect of Functional Compatibility on Hierarchical Pore Diffusivity and Atomic Simulation Insights

This study introduces a novel method for synthesizing a Fe-based metal-organic framework (MOF), leveraging Fe wire as a substrate and an iron precursor source with which to grow MIL-88B(Fe) and MIL-88B(Fe)-NH2. This simple in situ approach requires only the addition of a ligand precursor for MOF formation, eliminating the need for an additional metal precursor. The adsorption performance of the developed MOF on the wire is evaluated using polar formaldehyde gas and nonpolar cyclohexane vapor as hazardous model gas/vapor (GV). The key discovery highlights the pivotal role of functional compatibility between a GV and MOF in governing GV diffusivity through mesopores (<20 nm) within the MOF, as validated through an experimental analysis and theoretical calculations. In contrast, interparticle diffusivity through larger pores (>20 nm) remains unaffected, demonstrating the unique influence of nanoscale interactions. Semiempirical atomic simulations support the experimental results, revealing stronger interactions and more adsorption sites for compatible GV-MOF pairs. This study establishes a sustainable pathway for designing advanced GV adsorbents, emphasizing the importance of micro-/meso-diffusivity in a hierarchical porous structure to maximize the overall adsorption capacity. A proof-of-concept for a multipurpose GV adsorbent is conceived by weaving MOF wires with different functionalities to achieve the simultaneous removal of polar and nonpolar GVs.

A High-Stability Co-MOF with Open Metal Sites for C2H2/CO2/CH4 Separation

One-step purification of C2H2 from ternary mixtures (C2H2, CO2, and CH4) can significantly reduce the energy consumption of the separation process, but it is extremely challenging. A new Co-MOF (TNU-BTTB-1) with a three-dimensional (3D) framework was synthesized, which displays high thermal stability, retaining its structural integrity at temperatures up to 400 °C. The structure possesses rich accessible open metal sites in the porous walls and shows high uptake for C2H2 (37.4 cm3 g-1) and significant adsorption selectivity for C2H2 over CH4 (20.1) and CO2 (4.9) at 298 K and 100 kPa. Dynamic breakthrough studies show that it exhibits excellent C2H2 separation from C2H2/CO2/CH4 three-component mixtures.

A Microporous Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Framework with Open Pyrene Sites Isolated by Hydrogen-Bonded Helical Chains for Efficient Separation of Xenon and Krypton

Achieving efficient xenon/krypton (Xe/Kr) separation in emerging hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) is highly challenging because of the lack of gas-binding sites on their pore surfaces. Herein, we report the first microporous HOF (HOF-FJU-168) based on hydrogen-bonded helical chains, which prevent self-aggregation of the pyrene core, thereby preserving open pyrene sites on the pore surfaces. Its activated form, HOF-FJU-168a is capable of separating Xe/Kr under ambient conditions while achieving an excellent balance between adsorption capacity and selectivity. At 296 K and 1 bar, the Xe adsorption capacity of HOF-FJU-168a reached 78.31 cm3/g, with an Xe/Kr IAST selectivity of 22.0; both values surpass those of currently known top-performing HOFs. Breakthrough experiments confirmed its superior separation performance with a separation factor of 8.6 and a yield of high-purity Kr (>99.5 %) of 184 mL/g. Furthermore HOF-FJU-168 exhibits excellent thermal and chemical stability, as well as renewability. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and molecular modeling revealed that the unique electrostatic surface potential around the open pyrene sites creates a micro-electric field, exerting a stronger polarizing effect on Xe than on Kr, thereby enhancing host-Xe interactions.

An MOF-Based Single-Molecule Propylene Nanotrap for Benchmark Propylene Capture from Ethylene

Highly selective capture and separation of propylene (C3H6) from ethylene (C2H4) presents one of the most crucial processes to obtain pure C2H4 in the petrochemical industry. The separation performance of current physisorbents is commonly limited by insufficient C3H6 binding affinity, resulting in poor low-pressure C3H6 uptakes or inadequate C3H6/C2H4 selectivities. Herein, we realize a unique single-molecule C3H6 nanotrap in an ultramicroporous MOF material (Co(pyz)[Pd(CN)4], ZJU-74a-Pd), exhibiting the benchmark C3H6 capture capacity at low-pressure regions. This MOF-based nanotrap features the sandwichlike strong multipoint binding sites and the perfect size match with C3H6 molecules, providing an ultrastrong C3H6 binding affinity with the maximal Q st value (55.8 kJ mol-1). This affords the nanotrap to exhibit one of the highest C3H6 uptakes at low pressures (60.5 and 103.8 cm3 cm-3 at 0.01 and 0.1 bar) and record-high C3H6/C2H4 selectivity (23.4). Theoretical calculations reveal that the perfectly size-matched pore cavities combined with sandwichlike multibinding sites enable this single-molecule C3H6 nanotrap to maximize the C3H6 binding affinity, mainly accounting for its record low-pressure C3H6 capture capacity and selectivity. Breakthrough experiments further confirm its excellent separation capacity for actual 1/99 and 50/50 C3H6/C2H4 mixtures, affording the remarkably high pure C2H4 productivities of 17.1 and 3.4 mol kg-1, respectively.

Chemically Modified HKUST-1(Cu) for Gas Adsorption and Separation: Mixed-Metal and Hierarchical Porosity

The archetypical metal-organic framework (MOF), HKUST-1, has been systematically modified in both its organic and inorganic building blocks to introduce diversity in the metal centers and create defects within the network, achieving a variety of bimetallic hierarchical structures. These modifications changed the affinity of the MOFs for acid gases. The introduction of bimetallic sites mostly affects CO2 adsorption, while the hierarchical structure generates an increase in SO2 uptake capacity, allowing better performance in the separation of binary mixtures of these gases near room temperature. Notably, the synthesized HH-Cu100 material exhibited an exceptionally high IAST SO2/CO2 (10:90) selectivity of 3420 at 298 K, outperforming benchmark MOFs with open metal sites.

Modulator-Directed Counterintuitive Catenation Control for Crafting Highly Porous and Robust Metal-Organic Frameworks with Record High SO2 Uptake Capacity

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is an important industrial feedstock that can be directly utilized or catalytically transformed to value-added chemicals such as sulfuric acid. The development of regenerable porous sorbents for the highly efficient storage and energy-minimal release of toxic SO2 operating under ambient conditions has attracted growing interest. Herein, we report the topology-guided construction of highly porous acs-type metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) through a counterintuitive modulator-directed catenation control approach. In contrast to the conventional modulator facilitated coordination competition that favors the thermodynamic catenated phase, we show that the elevation of modulator concentration can promote the formation of the noncatenated phase probably through a sublattice dissolution pathway. The assembly of a custom-designed trigonal prismatic triptycene-quinoxaline linker and trinuclear Fe3O cluster affords either the threefold catenated SJTU-219 or noncatenated SJTU-220 with desired acs net. Impressively, the synthetic approach is applicable to various metal ions, including Al3+, V3+, and even Ti4+. The noncatenated SJTU-220 exhibits an extraordinary SO2 sorption capacity of 29.6 mmol g-1 at 298 K and 1 bar, surpassing all reported solid sorbents. The uptake capacity can be further raised to 35.6 mmol g-1 via the replacement of Fe3+ with kinetically more inert Cr3+, resulting in a staggering ∼329-fold volume reduction compared with free ideal SO2 gas. Computational simulations suggest that unique Fe3+···S(SO2) interactions dominate the SO2 seeding process, facilitating the efficient packing of SO2 molecules in the large channels. Besides, the exceptionally low uptake at the low pressure region implies global weak framework-SO2 interactions, which offer great potential for practically implementing an "easy-on/easy-off" SO2 delivery system.

Planar Group Functionalization of Quasi-Discrete Pores in Metal-Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Isomeric Separation in Simulated Moving Bed Processes

The efficient separation of 4-methyl-1-pentene (4MP1) from its structural isomers is crucial for industrial applications but remains challenging due to the similar physicochemical properties of these compounds. This study introduces a novel strategy using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), specifically an engineered variant of ZIF-108, which demonstrates remarkable improvements in the thermodynamic and kinetic properties for 4MP1 separation. By substituting the methyl groups in ZIF-8 with planar nitro groups, we achieved a strategic resizing of the pore windows and cavity dimensions in ZIF-108. This adjustment not only enhanced the molecular affinity and selectivity toward 4MP1 but also facilitated a diffusion rate that is 164 times faster than that observed in ZIF-8. These properties significantly elevated the performance of ZIF-108 in simulated moving bed (SMB) processes, achieving up to 96.5% recovery of high-purity 4MP1, outperforming traditional adsorbents. Comprehensive characterization, including density functional theory (DFT) calculations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, provided insights into the interactions and the stability of the adsorption process. The findings suggest that the strategic modification of the pore architecture in MOFs holds significant potential for optimizing the separation processes of industrially relevant mixtures.

Pore Chemistry and Architecture Control in Anionic Functional Ultramicroporous Materials for Record Dense Packing of Xenon

Adsorptive separation of Xe and Kr is an industrially promising but challenging process because of their identical shape and similar physicochemical properties. Herein, we demonstrate a strategy through rationally designing the linkers of anionic functional ultramicroporous materials (FUMs) to finely regulate the pore chemistry and architecture, which creates unique stepped channels incorporating dense polar nanotraps to generate a larger effective pore space and enables dense packing of Xe. A new hydrolytically stable FUM (ZUL-530) was prepared, which for the first time achieves a Xe packing density exceeding the liquid Xe density at atmospheric conditions in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) (based on experimental data), resulting in both excellent Xe uptake (2.55 mmol g-1 at 0.2 bar) and high IAST selectivity (20.5). GCMC and DFT-D calculations reveal the essential role of the stepped traps in the dense packing of Xe. Breakthrough experiments demonstrate remarkable productivities of both high-purity Kr (6.70 mmol g-1) and Xe (1.78 mmol g-1) for the Xe/Kr (20:80) mixture. In a model nuclear industry exhaust gas, ZUL-530 exhibits a top-class Xe dynamic capacity (28.8 mmol kg-1) for trace Xe, which proves it is one of the best candidates for Xe/Kr separation.

Dual-Track Multifunctional Bimetallic Metal-Organic Frameworks for Antibiotic Enrichment and Detection

The improper use and overuse of antibiotics have led to significant burdens and detrimental effects on the environment, food supply, and human health. Herein, a magnetic solid-phase extraction program and an optical immunosensor based on bimetallic Ce/Zr-UiO 66 for the detection of antibiotics are developed. A magnetic Fe3O4@SiO2@Ce/Zr-UiO 66 metal-organic framework (MOF) is prepared to extract and enrich chloramphenicol from fish, wastewater, and urine samples, and a horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-Ce/Zr-UiO 66@bovine serum protein-chloramphenicol probe is used for the sensitive detection of chloramphenicol based on the dual-effect catalysis of Ce and HRP. In this manner, the application of Ce/Zr-UiO 66 in integrating sample pretreatment and antibiotic detection is systematically investigated and the associated mechanisms are explored. It is concluded that Ce/Zr-UiO 66 is a versatile dual-track material exhibiting high enrichment efficiency (6.37 mg g-1) and high sensitivity (limit of detection of 51.3 pg mL-1) for chloramphenicol detection and serving as a multifunctional MOF for safeguarding public health and hygiene.

Water-Resistant, Scalable, and Inexpensive Chiral Metal-Organic Framework Featuring Global Negative Electrostatic Potentials for Efficient Acetylene Separation

Physical separation of acetylene (C2H2) from carbon dioxide (CO2) or ethylene (C2H4) on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is crucial for achieving high-purity feed gases with minimal energy penalty. However, such processes are exceptionally challenging due to their close physical properties and are also critically restricted by the high cost of large-scale MOF synthesis. Here, we demonstrate the readily scalable synthesis of a highly water-resistant chiral Cu-MOF (TAMOF-1) based on an inexpensive proteogenic amino acid derivative bearing rich N/O sites. Notably, the unique coordination in this ultramicroporous MOF has resulted in the generation of rare global negative electrostatic potentials, which greatly facilitate the electrostatic interactions with C2H2 molecules, thus leading to their efficient separation from C2H2/CO2 and C2H2/C2H4 mixtures under ambient conditions. The separation efficiency and mechanism are unequivocally validated by breakthrough experiments and computational simulations. This work not only highlights the pivotal role of creating a negative electro-environment in confined spaces for boosting C2H2 capture and separation but also opens up new ways of employing cheap amino acid derivatives bearing rich electro-negative N and O sites as organic linkers to constructing high-performing MOF materials for gas separation purposes.

Trace SO2 capture within the engineered pore space using a highly stable SnF62--pillared MOF

Developing reliable solid sorbents for efficient capture and removal of trace sulfur dioxide (SO2) under ambient conditions is critical for industrial desulfurization operations, but poses a great challenge. Herein, we focus on SNFSIX-Cu-TPA, a highly stable fluorinated MOF that utilizes SnF62- as pillars, for effectively capturing SO2 at extremely low pressures. The exceptional affinity of SNFSIX-Cu-TPA towards SO2 over CO2 and N2 was demonstrated through single-component isotherms and corroborated by computational simulations. At 298 K and 0.002 bar, this material displays a remarkable gas uptake of 2.22 mmol g-1. Among various anion fluorinated MOFs, SNFSIX-Cu-TPA shows the highest SO2/MF62- of 1.39 mmol mmol-1 and exhibits a low Qst of 58.81 kJ mol-1. Additionally, SNFSIX-Cu-TPA displays excellent potential for SO2/CO2 separation, as evidenced by its ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) selectivity of 148 at a molar fraction of SO2 of 0.01. Dynamic breakthrough curves were obtained to reveal the effective removal of trace SO2 from simulated flue gas (SO2/CO2/N2; v/v/v 0.2/10/89.8) with a high dynamic capacity of up to 1.52 mmol g-1. Furthermore, in situ TGA demonstrated the efficient and reversible capture of 500 ppm SO2 over 20 adsorption-desorption tests. This durable material presents a rare combination of exceptional SO2 capturing performance, good adsorption selectivity, and mild regeneration, thus making it a good candidate for a realistic desulfurization process.

Double-walled Al-based MOF with large microporous specific surface area for trace benzene adsorption

Double-walled metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), synthesized using Zn and Co, are potential porous materials for trace benzene adsorption. Aluminum is with low-toxicity and abundance in nature, in comparison with Zn and Co. Therefore, a double-walled Al-based MOF, named as ZJU-520(Al), with large microporous specific surface area of 2235 m2 g-1, pore size distribution in the range of 9.26-12.99 Å and excellent chemical stability, was synthesized. ZJU-520(Al) is consisted by helical chain of AlO6 clusters and 4,6-Di(4-carboxyphenyl)pyrimidine ligands. Trace benzene adsorption of ZJU-520(Al) is up to 5.98 mmol g-1 at 298 K and P/P0 = 0.01. Adsorbed benzene molecules are trapped on two types of sites. One (site I) is near the AlO6 clusters, another (site II) is near the N atom of ligands, using Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations. ZJU-520(Al) can effectively separate trace benzene from mixed vapor flow of benzene and cyclohexane, due to the adsorption affinity of benzene higher than that of cyclohexane. Therefore, ZJU-520(Al) is a potential adsorbent for trace benzene adsorption and benzene/cyclohexane separation.

Reticular synthesis of 8-connected carboxyl hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks for white-light-emission

The rational design and construction of hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) are crucial for enabling their practical applications, but controlling their structure and preparation as intended remains challenging. Inspired by reticular chemistry, two novel blue-emitting NKM-HOF-1 and NKM-HOF-2 were successfully constructed based on two judiciously designed peripherally extended pentiptycene carboxylic acids, namely H8PEP-OBu and H8PEP-OMe, respectively. The large pores within these two HOFs can adsorb fluorescent molecules such as diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) and 9-anthraldehyde (AnC) to form HOFs ⊃ DPP/AnC composites, subsequently used in the fabrication of white-light-emitting devices (WLEDs). Specifically, two WLEDs were assembled by coating NKM-HOF-1 ⊃ DPP-0.13/AnC-3.5 and NKM-HOF-2 ⊃ DPP-0.12/AnC-3 on a 330 nm ultraviolet LED bulb, respectively. The corresponding CIE coordinates were (0.29, 0.33) and (0.32, 0.34), along with corresponding color temperatures of 7815 K and 6073 K. This work effectively demonstrates the feasibility of employing reticular chemistry strategies to predict and design HOFs with specific topologies for targeted applications.

Metal-Organic Frameworks Possessing Suitable Pores for Xe/Kr Separation

Adsorption separation of the Xe/Kr mixture remains a tough issue since Xe and Kr have an inert nature and similar sizes. Here we present a chlorinated metal-organic framework (MOF) [JXNU-19(Cl)] and its nonchlorinated analogue (JXNU-19) for Xe/Kr separation. The two isostructural MOFs constructed from the heptanuclear cobalt-hydroxyl clusters bridged by organic ligands are three-dimensional structures. Detailed contrast of the Xe/Kr adsorption separation properties of the MOF shows that significantly enhanced Xe uptakes and Xe/Kr adsorption selectivity (17.1) are observed for JXNU-19 as compared to JXNU-19(Cl). The main binding sites for Xe in the MOF revealed by computational simulations are far away from the chlorine sites, suggesting that the introduction of the chlorine groups results in the unfavorable Xe adsorption for JXNU-19(Cl). The optimal pores, high surface area, and multiple strong Xe-framework interactions facilitate the effective Xe/Kr separation for JXNU-19.

Preparation, X-ray Characterization, and Reactivity of the Rod-like and Angular Germanium- and Titanium(IV)-Capped Iron(II) Bis-Clathrochelates and Their Mono- and Bis-Capped (Semi)clathrochelate Precursors

Transmetalation of the bis{triethylantimony(V)}-capped iron(II) tris-α-dioximate with n-butylboronic acid afforded the mixed antimony, boron cross-linked clathrochelate with single reactive antimony(V)-based apical fragment. This macrobicyclic precursor easily underwent the transmetalation reactions with germanium and titanium(IV) alkoxides to give the rod-like and angular FeII2MIV-trinuclear bis-clathrochelates. Those of the aforementioned diantimony(V)-capped complex with 3- and 4-carboxyphenylboronic acids afforded the monoboron-capped iron(II) semiclathrochelates, undergoing a double-cyclization (macrobicyclization) with germanium- and titanium(IV)-based capping agents. The reactions in the low-temperature range unexpectedly gave the stable 2:1 associates, formed by the bridging of two carboxyl-terminated macrobicyclic molecules of the mixed carboxylboron, triethylantimony-capped iron(II) clathrochelate with a triethylantimony(V)-based linker fragment. The obtained complexes were characterized using elemental analysis, MALDI-TOF, 1H and 13C{1H} NMR and UV-vis spectra, and single-crystal XRD experiments. The encapsulated iron(II) ion in their 3D-molecules is situated almost in the center of its FeN6-coordination polyhedron possessing a truncated trigonal-pyramidal geometry. Fe-N distances fall in the range 1.887(7)-1.945(4) Å characteristic of the low-spin iron(II) complexes. The cross-linking titanium and germanium(IV) ions in the corresponding bis-clathrochelate molecules form the octahedral MIVO6-coordination polyhedra, the MIV-O distances of which vary from 1.946(2) to 1.964(2) Å and from 1.879(7) to 1.907(6) Å, respectively.

Composites of (NH2)-MIL-53(Al) and CBB as bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall electrochemical water splitting in all pH solutions

Electrochemical water splitting is one of the most active areas of energy research, yet the benchmark electrocatalysts used for this area are based on expensive noble metals and transition metals, thus mainly reactions in alkaline solution. MOFs and halide perovskite are novel electrochemical catalysts but unstable in water basically. Here we report a study on composites of (NH2)-MIL-53(Al) MOFs and CBB halide perovskite (Cs3Bi2Br9), which exhibit obvious activity for overall electrochemical water splitting for long-term stability with little deactivation after 10 h in all pH solutions.

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Adsorption and Diffusion of C8 Aromatic Isomers in MIL-47(V)

The separation of C8 aromatic isomers (oX: o-xylene, pX: p-xylene, mX: m-xylene, and EB: ethylbenzene) remains an enormous challenge in industrial production due to their similar molecular structures and physical properties. Porous materials with suitable pore structures and selective recognition sites to discriminate the slight structural differences of isomers are imminently needed. In this paper, MIL-47(V) with a three-dimensional (3D) grid structure of 10.5 × 10.5 Å2 and a one-dimensional (1D) diamond channel was selected as the adsorbent. However, the mechanism of the adsorption and separation of C8 aromatic isomers in porous materials still needs to be understood. Given the importance of C8 aromatic isomers' confinement in MIL-47(V) for adsorption and diffusion applications, it is important to understand C8 aromatic isomers' behavior in MIL-47(V). Here, we demonstrated from a simulation perspective that metal-organic frameworks MIL-47(V) with one-dimensional (1D) diamond channels can identify C8 aromatic isomers. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have shown that organic ligands with guest response sites of MIL-47(V) can effectively distinguish between C8 aromatic isomers by adaptation to the shape of a specific isomer. MIL-47(V) has high adsorption and an excellent separation sequence between C8 aromatic isomers: oX > pX ≈ mX > EB. Significant differences exist in π-π superposition interactions between C8 aromatic isomers and between C8 aromatic isomers and the skeletons. This phenomenon is mainly caused by the unique pore structure and guest response characteristics of MIL-47(V). This work is identified as a supplementary instruction to experimental research and is expected to provide profound insights into research on developing C8 aromatic isomers' adsorption and separation and theoretical support.

Chemical Sensors Based on Covalent Organic Frameworks

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a type of crystalline porous polymer composed of light elements through strong covalent bonds. COFs have attracted considerable attention due to their unique designable structures and excellent material properties. Currently, COFs have shown outstanding potential in various fields, including gas storage, pollutant removal, catalysis, adsorption, optoelectronics, and their research in the sensing field is also increasingly flourishing. In this review, we focus on COF-based sensors. Firstly, we elucidate the fundamental principles of COF-based sensors. Then, we present the primary application areas of COF-based sensors and their recent advancements, encompassing gas, ions, organic compounds, and biomolecules sensing. Finally, we discuss the future trends and challenges faced by COF-based sensors, outlining their promising prospects in the field of sensing.

Synthesis of pH responsive malononitrile functionalized metal organic framework MIL-100(Fe) for efficient adsorption of uranium U(VI) from real-life alkaline leach liquor

The porous framework of MIL-100(Fe) was functionalized using malononitrile (MN), through an in-situ Knoevenagel condensation reaction to introduce abundant -CN groups on the surface of the developed adsorbent. The resultant MN-functionalized MIL-100(Fe) exhibited excellent Uranium (U(VI)) removal capacity (i.e., 270 mg/g) at highly alkaline pH (⁓ 10). Different coexisting cations and anions show negligible influence on the U-removal and it was 92.1-99.7 % in presence of different co-ions, with the concentration from 10 to 50 mg/L. Moreover, MIL-100(Fe)_MN showed extremely selective U removal from the actual alkaline leach liquor (⁓ 97 %), without any pH adjustment and leaching of the constituent Fe. The surface-grafted -CN groups were predominantly active towards the coordinative interactions with the U(VI) ionic moieties, as evident from the XPS and FTIR analysis. The MIL-100(Fe)_MN adsorbent was also subjected to five consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles, with >90 % U removal after 5th cycle. Moreover, the regenerated MIL-100(Fe)_MN was structurally and functionally resilient, as observed from the morphological and crystallographic analysis. A convection-pore diffusion based transport model was used to analyze the optimized mass transfer parameters. Overall, the present study highlights the simple design and development of malononitrile-functionalized MIL-100(Fe) as an efficient and selective adsorbent for U(VI) removal from U-rich alkaline leach liquor.

A Microporous Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Framework Based on Hydrogen-Bonding Tetramers for Efficient Xe/Kr Separation

Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) have been emerging as a new type of very promising microporous materials for gas separation and purification, but few HOFs structures constructed through hydrogen-bonding tetramers have been explored in this field. Herein, we report the first microporous HOF (termed as HOF-FJU-46) afforded by hydrogen-bonding tetramers with 4-fold interpenetrated diamond networks, which shows excellent chemical and thermal stability. What's more, activated HOF-FJU-46 exhibits the highest xenon (Xe) uptake of 2.51 mmol g-1 and xenon/krypton (Kr) selectivity of 19.9 at the ambient condition among the reported HOFs up to date. Dynamic breakthrough tests confirmed the excellent Xe/Kr separation of HOF-FJU-46a, showing high Kr productivity (110 mL g-1 ) and Xe uptake (1.29 mmol g-1 ), as well as good recyclability. The single crystal X-ray diffraction and the molecular simulations revealed that the abundant accessible aromatic and pyrazole rings in the pore channels of HOF-FJU-46a can provide the multiple strong C-H⋅⋅⋅Xe interactions with Xe atoms.

Hydrogen-Bonding Assembly Meets Anion Coordination Chemistry: Framework Shaping and Polarity Tuning for Xenon/Krypton Separation

Hybrid hydrogen-bonded (H-bonded) frameworks built from charged components or metallotectons offer diverse guest-framework interactions for target-specific separations. We present here a study to systematically explore the coordination chemistry of monovalent halide anions, i.e., F- , Cl- , Br- , and I- , with the aim to develop hybrid H-bond synthons that enable the controllable construction of microporous H-bonded frameworks exhibiting fine-tunable surface polarity within the adaptive cavities for realistic xenon/krypton (Xe/Kr) separation. The spherical halide anions, especially Cl- , Br- , and I- , are found to readily participate in the charge-assisted H-bonding assembly with well-defined coordination behaviors, resulting in robust frameworks bearing open halide anions within the distinctive 1D pore channels. The activated frameworks show preferential binding towards Xe (IAST Xe/Kr selectivity ca. 10.5) because of the enhanced polarizability and the pore confinement effect. Specifically, dynamic column Xe/Kr separation with a record-high separation factor (SF=7.0) among H-bonded frameworks was achieved, facilitating an efficient Xe/Kr separation in dilute, CO2 -containing gas streams exactly mimicking the off-gas of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) reprocessing.

Predicting Gas Adsorption without the Knowledge of Pore Structures: A Machine Learning Method Based on Classical Density Functional Theory

Predicting gas adsorption from the pore structure is an intuitive and widely used methodology in adsorption. However, in real-world systems, the structural information is usually very complicated and can only be approximately obtained from the characterization data. In this work, we developed a machine learning (ML) method to predict gas adsorption form the raw characterization data of N2 adsorption. The ML method is modeled by a convolutional neural network and trained by a large number of data that are generated from a classical density functional theory, and the model gives a very accurate prediction of Ar adsorption. Though the training set is limited to modeling slit pores, the model can be applied to three-dimensional structured pores and real-world materials. The good agreements suggest that there is a universal relationship among adsorption isotherms of different adsorbates, which could be captured by the ML model.

Precise Fingerprint Determination of Vibrational Infrared Spectra in a Series of Co(II) Clathrochelates through Experimental and Theoretical Analyses

The energetic demands of modern society for clean energy vectors, such as H2, have caused a surge in research associated with homogeneous and immobilized electrocatalysts that may replace Pt. In particular, clathrochelates have shown excellent electrocatalytic properties for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the actual mechanism for the HER catalyzed by these d-metal complexes remains an open debate, which may be addressed via Operando spectroelectrochemistry. The prediction of electrochemical properties via density functional theory (DFT) needs access to thermodynamic functions, which are only available after Hessian calculations. Unfortunately, there is a notable lack in the current literature regarding the precise evaluation of vibrational spectra of such complexes, given their structural complexity and the associated tangled IR spectra. In this work, we have performed a detailed theoretical and experimental analysis in a family of Co(II) clathrochelates, in order to establish univocally their IR pattern, and also the calculation methodology that is adequate for such predictions. In summary, we have observed the presence of multiple common bands shared by this clathrochelate family, using the B3LYP functional, the LANL2DZ basis, and effective core potentials (ECP) for heavy atoms. The most important issue addressed in this article was therefore related to the detailed assignment of the fingerprint associated with cobalt(II) clathrochelates, which is a challenging endeavor due to the crowded nature of their spectra.

Prediction of Xe/Kr Separation in Metal-Organic Frameworks by a Precursor-Based Neural Network Synergistic with a Polarizable Adsorbate Model

Adsorption and separation of Xe/Kr are significant for making high-density nuclear energy environmentally friendly and for meeting the requirements of the gas industry. Enhancing the accuracy of the adsorbate model for describing the adsorption behaviors of Xe and Kr in MOFs and the efficiency of the model for predicting the separation potential (SP) value of Xe/Kr separation in MOFs helps in searching for promising MOFs for Xe/Kr adsorption and separation within a short time and at a low cost. In this work, polarizable and transferable models for mimic Xe and Kr adsorption behaviors in MOFs were constructed. Using these models, SP values of 38 MOFs at various temperatures and pressures were calculated. An optimal neural network model called BPNN-SP was designed to predict SP value based on physical parameters of metal center (electronegativity and radius) and organic linker (three-dimensional size and polarizability) combined with temperature and pressure. The regression coefficient value of the BPNN-SP model for each data set is higher than 0.995. MAE, MBE, and RMSE of BPNN-SP are only 0.331, -0.002, and 0.505 mmol/g, respectively. Finally, BPNN-SP was validated by experiment data from six MOFs. The transferable adsorbate model combined with the BPNN-SP model would highly improve the efficiency for designing MOFs with high performance for Xe/Kr adsorption and separation.

One-step ethylene purification from ternary mixtures by an ultramicroporous material with synergistic binding centers

Developing advanced porous materials with industrial potential to separate multicomponent gas mixtures that are structurally similar is a crucial but challenging task. Here, we report the efficient one-step separation of ethylene (C2H4) from acetylene (C2H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) using an ultramicroporous metal-organic framework UTSA-16. The synergistic effect of the polarized carboxyl groups and coordinated water molecules in its pore channel enables the material to have high uptakes for C2H2 and CO2 due to electrostatic potential matching, as well as excellent separation selectivity against C2H4. Breakthrough experiments suggest that UTSA-16 can efficiently separate 99.9% pure C2H4 from ternary mixtures with a high productivity of 403 L kg-1. Moreover, the preparation cost of UTSA-16 is significantly lower than other related adsorbents by 40-2000 times, indicating its unique potential for industrial applications.

Fixing CO2 under Atmospheric Conditions and Dual Functional Heterogeneous Catalysis Employing Cu MOFs: Polymorphism, Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal (SCSC) Transformation and Magnetic Studies

New copper compounds, [Cu(C14H8O6)(C10H8N2)(H2O)] (1), [Cu(C14H8O6)(C10H8N2)(H2O)]·(C3H7ON)2 (2), [Cu(C14H8O6)(C10H8N2)(H2O)2]·(C3H7ON) (3), [Cu(C14H8O6)(C10H8N4)] (4), and [Cu(C14H8O6)(C10H8N4)]·(H2O) (5), were prepared employing 2,5-bis(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)terephthalic acid (2,5-BPTA) as the primary ligand and 4,4'-bipyridine (1-3) and 4,4'-azopyridine (4-5) as the secondary ligands. Single-crystal studies indicated that compounds 1-4 have two-dimensional layer structures and compound 5 has a three-dimensional structure. Compounds 1-3 were isolated from the same reaction mixture but by varying the time of reaction. The framework structures of compounds 1-3 are similar and may be considered as polymorphic structures. Compounds 4 and 5 can also be considered polymorphic with a change in dimensionality of the structure. Compounds 1-3 can be formed through a single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation under a suitable solvent mixture. The Cu center was explored for the Lewis acid-catalyzed cycloaddition reaction of epoxide and CO2 under ambient conditions in a solventless condition and also for the synthesis of propargylamine derivatives by three-component coupling reactions (A3 coupling) in a DCM medium. The Lewis basic functionality of the MOF (-N═N- group) has been explored for the Henry reaction (aldol condensation) in a solventless condition. In all of the catalytic reactions, good yields and recyclability were observed. The magnetic studies indicated that compounds 1 and 4 have antiferromagnetic interactions and compound 5 has ferromagnetic interactions. The present studies illustrated the rich diversity that the copper-containing compounds exhibit in extended framework structures.

Pillararene incorporated metal-organic frameworks for supramolecular recognition and selective separation

Crystalline frameworks containing incorporated flexible macrocycle units can afford new opportunities in molecular recognition and selective separation. However, such functionalized frameworks are difficult to prepare and challenging to characterize due to the flexible nature of macrocycles, which limits the development of macrocycle-based crystalline frameworks. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a set of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) containing pillar[5]arene units. The pillar[5]arene units were uniformly embedded in the periodic frameworks. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed an interpenetrated network that appears to hinder the rotation of the pillar[5]arene repeating units in the frameworks, and it therefore resulted in the successful determination of the precise pillar[5]arene host structure in a MOF crystal. These MOFs can recognize paraquat and 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene in solution and selectively remove trace pyridine from toluene with relative ease. The work presented here represents a critical step towards the synthesis of macrocycle-incorporated crystalline frameworks with well-defined structures and functional utility.

Switchable Xe/Kr Selectivity in a Hofmann-Type Metal-Organic Framework via Temperature-Responsive Rotational Dynamics

The development of adsorbents for Kr and Xe separation is essential to meet industrial demands and for energy conservation. Although a number of previous studies have focused on Xe-selective adsorbents, stimuli-responsive Xe/Kr-selective adsorbents still remain underdeveloped. Herein, a Hofmann-type framework Co(DABCO)[Ni(CN)4 ] (referred to as CoNi-DAB; DABCO = 1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane) that provides a temperature-dependent switchable Xe/Kr separation performance is reported. CoNi-DAB showed high Kr/Xe (0.8/0.2) selectivity with significant Kr adsorption at 195 K as well as high Xe/Kr (0.2/0.8) selectivity with superior Xe adsorption at 298 K. Such adsorption features are associated with the temperature-dependent rotational configuration of the DABCO ligand, which affects the kinetic gate-opening temperature of Xe and Kr. The packing densities of Xe (2.886 g cm-3 at 298 K) and Kr (2.399 g  cm-3 at 195 K) inside the framework are remarkable and comparable with those of liquid Xe (3.057 g cm-3 ) and liquid Kr (2.413 g cm-3 ), respectively. Breakthrough experiments confirm the temperature-dependent reverse separation performance of CoNi-DAB at 298 K under dry and wet (88% relative humidity) conditions and at 195 K under dry conditions. The unique adsorption behavior is also verified through van der Waals (vdW)-corrected density functional theory (DFT) calculations and nudged elastic band (NEB) simulations.

Efficient Removal of Carcinogenic Azo Dyes from Water Using Iron(II) Clathrochelate Derived Metalorganic Copolymers Made from a Copper-Catalyzed [4 + 2] Cyclobenzannulation Reaction

A novel synthetic strategy is disclosed to prepare a new class of metalorganic copolymers that contain iron(II) clathrochelate building blocks by employing a mild and cost-effective copper-catalyzed [4 + 2] cyclobenzannulation reaction, using three specially designed diethynyl iron(II) clathrochelate synthons. The target copolymers CBP1-3 were isolated in high purity and excellent yields as proven by their structural and photophysical characterization, namely, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-VIS absorption and emission spectroscopies. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of CBP1-3 revealed an excellent chemical stability. Investigation of the adsorption properties of the target copolymers towards the carcinogenic methyl red dye from aqueous solution revealed a quantitative uptake in 30 min. Isothermal adsorption studies disclosed that methyl red uptake from aqueous solution followed the Langmuir model for all of the target copolymers, reaching a maximum adsorption capacity (q_m) of 431 mg g^-. Kinetic investigation revealed that the adsorption followed pseudo-first-order with an equilibrium adsorption capacity (q_e,cal) of 79.35 mg g^- and whose sorption property was sustained even after its reuse several times.

Reticular Chemistry in Its Chiral Form: Axially Chiral Zr(IV)-Spiro Metal-Organic Framework as a Case Study

The interplay of primary organic ligands and inorganic secondary building units (SBUs) has led to a continual boom of reticular chemistry, particularly metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Subtle variations of organic ligands can have a significant impact on the ultimate structural topology and consequently, the material's function. However, the role of ligand chirality in reticular chemistry has rarely been explored. In this work, we report the organic ligand chirality-controlled synthesis of two zirconium-based MOFs (Spiro-1 and Spiro-3) with distinct topological structures as well as a temperature-controlled formation of a kinetically stable phase (Spiro-4) based on the carboxylate-functionalized inherently axially chiral 1,1'-spirobiindane-7,7'-phosphoric acid ligand. Specifically, Spiro-1 is a homochiral framework comprising only enantiopure S-spiro ligands and has a unique 4,8-connected sjt topology with large 3D interconnected cavities, while Spiro-3 contains equal amounts of S- and R-spiro ligands, resulting in a racemic framework of 6,12-connected edge-transitive alb topology with narrow channels. Interestingly, the kinetic product Spiro-4 obtained with racemic spiro ligands is built of both hexa- and nona-nuclear zirconium clusters acting as 9- and 6-connected nodes, respectively, giving rise to a newly discovered azs net. Notably, the preinstalled highly hydrophilic phosphoric acid groups combined with large cavity, high porosity, and outstanding chemical stability endow Spiro-1 with remarkable water vapor sorption performance, whereas Spiro-3 and Spiro-4 show poor performances due to inappropriate pore systems and structural fragility upon the water adsorption/desorption process. This work highlights the important role of ligand chirality in manipulating the framework topology and function and would further enrich the development of reticular chemistry.

Reticular Chemistry in Pore Engineering of a Y-Based Metal-Organic Framework for Xenon/Krypton Separation

The fine-tuning of metal-organic framework (MOF) pore structures is of critical importance in developing energy-efficient xenon/krypton (Xe/Kr) separation techniques. Capitalizing on reticular chemistry, we constructed a robust Y-based MOF (NU-1801) that is isoreticular to NPF-500 with a shortened organic ligand and a larger metal radius while maintaining the 4,8-connected flu topology, giving rise to a narrowed pore structure for the efficient separation of a Xe/Kr mixture. At 298 K and 1 bar, NU-1801 possessed a moderate Xe uptake of 2.79 mmol/g but exhibited a high Xe/Kr selectivity of 8.2 and an exceptional Xe/Kr uptake ratio of about 400%. NU-1801 could efficiently separate a Xe/Kr mixture (20:80, v/v), as validated by breakthrough experiments, due to the outstanding discrimination in van der Waals interactions of Xe and Kr toward the framework confirmed by grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations. This work highlights the importance of reticular chemistry in designing structure-specific MOFs for gas separation.

Multistep synthesis and X-ray structures of carboxyl-terminated hybrid iron(II) phthalocyaninatoclathrochelates and their postsynthetic transformation into polytopic carboranyl-containing derivatives

A multistep general synthetic strategy towards polytopic carboranyl-containing (semi)clathrochelate metal complexes, based on the template synthesis, transmetallation, amide condensation and 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions, is developed. Their mono(semi)clathrochelate precursors with a single reactive group were obtained using a transmetallation of the triethylantimony-capped macrobicyclic precursor. The thus obtained carboxyl-terminated iron(II) semiclathrochelate underwent a macrobicyclization with zirconium(IV) phthalocyaninate to form the corresponding phthalocyaninatoclathrochelate. The direct one-pot template condensation of the suitable chelating and cross-linking ligand synthons on the Fe²⁺ ion as a matrix was also used for its preparation. Further amide condensation of the aforementioned semiclathrochelate and hybrid complexes with propargylamine in the presence of carbonyldiimidazole gave the (pseudo)cage derivatives with a terminal CC bond. Their "click" reaction with an appropriate carboranylmethyl azide afforded the ditopic carboranosemiclathrochelates and the tritopic carboranyl-containing phthalocyaninatoclathrochelates with a flexible spacer fragment between their polyhedral entities. The obtained new complexes were characterized using elemental analysis, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, multinuclear NMR, and UV-vis spectroscopy, and by single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. Their FeN₆-coordination polyhedra show a truncated trigonal-pyramidal geometry, while the cross-linking heptacoordinate Zr⁴⁺ or Hf⁴⁺ cations in the hybrid compounds form the M^IVN₄O₃-coordination polyhedra with the geometry of a capped trigonal prism.

A Novel Aluminum-Based Metal-Organic Framework with Uniform Micropores for Trace BTEX Adsorption

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are potential porous adsorbents for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX). A novel MOF, using low toxic aluminum (Al) as the metal, named as ZJU-620(Al), with uniform micropore size of 8.37±0.73 Å and specific surface area of 1347 m²  g^-1 , was synthesized. It is constructed by one-dimensional rod-shaped AlO₆ clusters, formate ligands and 4,4',4''-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzene-1,3,5-triyl) tribenzoic ligands. ZJU-620(Al) exhibits excellent chemical-thermal stability and adsorption for trace BTEX, e.g., benzene adsorption of 3.80 mmol g^-1 at P/P₀ =0.01 and 298 K, which is the largest one reported. Using Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations and Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, it was observed that the excellent adsorption could be attributed to the high affinity of BTEX molecules in ZJU-620(Al) micropores because the kinetic diameters of BTEX are close up to the pore size of ZJU-620(Al).

Programmed Polarizability Engineering in a Cyclen-Based Cubic Zr(IV) Metal-Organic Framework to Boost Xe/Kr Separation

Efficient separation of xenon (Xe) and krypton (Kr) mixtures through vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) is considered the most attractive route to reduce energy consumption, but discriminating between these two gases is difficult due to their similar properties. In this work, we report a cubic zirconium-based MOF (Zr-MOF) platform, denoted as NU-1107, capable of achieving selective separation of Xe/Kr by post-synthetically engineering framework polarizability in a programmable manner. Specifically, the tetratopic linkers in NU-1107 feature tetradentate cyclen cores that are capable of chelating a variety of transition-metal ions, affording a sequence of metal-docked cationic isostructural Zr-MOFs. NU-1107-Ag(I), which features the strongest framework polarizability among this series, achieves the best performance for a 20:80 v/v Xe/Kr mixture at 298 K and 1.0 bar with an ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) predicted selectivity of 13.4, placing it among the highest performing MOF materials reported to date. Notably, the Xe/Kr separation performance for NU-1107-Ag(I) is significantly better than that of the isoreticular, porphyrin-based MOF-525-Ag(II), highlighting how the cyclen core can generate relatively stronger framework polarizability through the formation of low-valent Ag(I) species and polarizable counteranions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations corroborate these experimental results and suggest strong interactions between Xe and exposed Ag(I) sites in NU-1107-Ag(I). Finally, we validated this framework polarizability regulation approach by demonstrating the effectiveness of NU-1107-Ag(I) toward C₃H₆/C₃H₈ separation, indicating that this generalizable strategy can facilitate the bespoke synthesis of polarized porous materials for targeted separations.

Pore Environment Optimization of Microporous Metal-Organic Frameworks with Huddled Pyrazine Pillars for C2H2/CO2 Separation

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been proven promising in addressing many critical issues related to gas separation and purification. However, it remains a great challenge to optimize the pore environment of MOFs for purification of specific gas mixtures. Herein, we report the rational construction of three isostructural microporous MOFs with the 4,4',4"-tricarboxyltriphenylamine (H₃TCA) ligand, unusual hexaprismane Ni₆O₆ cluster, and functionalized pyrazine pillars [PYZ-x, x = -H (DZU-10), -NH₂ (DZU-11), and -OH (DZU-12)], where the building blocks of Ni₆O₆ clusters and huddled pyrazine pillars are reported in porous MOFs for the first time. These building blocks have enabled the resulting materials to exhibit good chemical stability and variable pore chemistry, which thus contribute to distinct performances toward C₂H₂/CO₂ separation. Both single-component isotherms and dynamic column breakthrough experiments demonstrate that DZU-11 with the PYZ-NH₂ pillar outperforms its hydrogen and hydroxy analogues. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the higher C₂H₂ affinity of DZU-11 over CO₂ is attributed to multiple electrostatic interactions between C₂H₂ and the framework, including strong C≡C···H-N (2.80 Å) interactions. This work highlights the potential of pore environment optimization to construct smart MOF adsorbents for some challenging gas separations.

Synthesis, crystal polymorphism and spin crossover behavior of adamantylboron-capped cobalt(II) hexachloroclathrochelate and its transformation into the CoIIICoIICoIII-bis-macrobicyclic derivative

Fast crystallization of the monoclathrochelate cobalt(II) intracomplex [Co(Cl₂Gm)₃(BAd)₂] (where Cl₂Gm^2- is a dichloroglyoxime dianion and BAd is an adamantylboron capping group, 1), initially obtained by the direct template condensation of the corresponding chelating α-dioximate and cross-linking ligand synthons on the Co²⁺ ion as a matrix, from benzene or dichloromethane afforded its structural triclinic and hexagonal polymorphs. Its prolonged recrystallization from dichloromethane under air atmosphere and sunlight irradiation unexpectedly gave the crystals of the Co^IIICo^IICo^III-trinuclear dodecachloro-bis-clathrochelate intracomplex [[Co^III(Cl₂Gm)₃(BAd)]₂Co^II] (2), the molecule of which consists of two macrobicyclic frameworks with encapsulated low-spin (LS) Co³⁺ ions, which are cross-linked by a μ₃-bridging Co²⁺ ion as a bifunctional Lewis-acidic center. The most plausible pathway of such a 1 → 2 transformation is based on the photoinitiated radical oxidation of dichloromethane with air oxygen giving the reactive species. Cobalt(II) monoclathrochelate 1 was found to undergo a temperature-induced spin crossover (SCO) both in its solutions and in the solid state. In spite of the conformational rigidity of the corresponding quasiaromatic diboron-capped tris-α-dioximate framework, the main parameters of this SCO transition (i.e., its completeness and gradual character) are strongly affected by the nature of the used solvent (in the case of its solutions) and by the structural polymorphism of its crystals (in the solid state). In the latter case, the LS state (S = 1/2) of this complex is more thermally stable and, therefore, the cobalt(II)-centered 1/2 → 3/2 SCO is more gradual than that in solutions.

Synthesis and Iodine Adsorption Properties of Organometallic Copolymers with Propeller-Shaped Fe(II) Clathrochelates Bridged by Different Diaryl Thioether and Their Oxidized Sulfone Derivatives

Three organometallic copolymers, ICP1-3, containing iron(II) clathrochelate units with cyclohexyl lateral groups and interconnected by various thioether derivatives were synthesized. The reaction of the latter into their corresponding OICP1-3 sulfone derivatives was achieved quantitatively using mild oxidation reaction conditions. The target copolymers, ICP1-3 and OICP1-3, were characterized by various instrumental analysis techniques, and their iodine uptake studies disclosed excellent iodine properties, reaching a maximum of 360 wt.% (q_e = 3600 mg g^-1). The adsorption mechanisms of the copolymers were explored using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. Furthermore, regeneration tests confirmed the efficiency of the target copolymers for their iodine adsorption even after several adsorption-desorption cycles.

Metal-Organic Frameworks and Their Composites for Environmental Applications

From the point of view of the ecological environment, contaminants such as heavy metal ions or toxic gases have caused harmful impacts on the environment and human health, and overcoming these adverse effects remains a serious and important task. Very recent, highly crystalline porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with tailorable chemistry and excellent chemical stability, have shown promising properties in the field of removing various hazardous pollutants. This review concentrates on the recent progress of MOFs and MOF-based materials and their exploit in environmental applications, mainly including water treatment and gas storage and separation. Finally, challenges and trends of MOFs and MOF-based materials for future developments are discussed and explored.

Mapping the Porous and Chemical Structure-Function Relationships of Trace CH3I Capture by Metal-Organic Frameworks using Machine Learning

Large-scale computational screening has become an indispensable tool for functional materials discovery. It, however, remains a challenge to adequately interrogate the large amount of data generated by a screening study. Here, we computationally screened 1087 metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), from the CoRE MOF 2014 database, for capturing trace amounts (300 ppmv) of methyl iodide (CH₃I); as a primary representative of organic iodides, CH₃¹²⁹I is one of the most difficult radioactive contaminants to separate. Furthermore, we demonstrate a simple and general approach for mapping and interrogating the high-dimensional structure-function data obtained by high-throughput screening; this involves learning two-dimensional embeddings of the high-dimensional data by applying unsupervised learning to encoded structural and chemical features of MOFs. The resulting various porous and chemical structure-function maps are human-interpretable, revealing not only top-performing MOFs but also complex structure-function correlations that are hidden when inspecting individual MOF features. These maps also alleviate the need of laborious visual inspection of a large number of MOFs by clustering similar MOFs, per the encoding features, into defined regions on the map. We also show that these structure-function maps are amenable to supervised classification of the performances of MOFs for trace CH₃I capture. We further show that the machine-learning models trained on the 1087 CoRE MOFs can be used to predict an unseen set of 250 MOFs randomly selected from a different MOF database, achieving high prediction accuracies.

Synthesis of Iron(II) Clathrochelate-Based Poly(vinylene sulfide) with Tetraphenylbenzene Bridging Units and Their Selective Oxidation into Their Corresponding Poly(vinylene sulfone) Copolymers: Promising Materials for Iodine Capture

The development of a simple and efficient synthetic methodology to engineer functional polymer materials for gas adsorption is necessary due to its relevance for various applications. Herein, we report the synthesis of metalorganic poly(vinylene sulfide) copolymers CTP1-3 with iron(II) clathrochelate of various side groups connected by tetraphenylbenzene units. CTP1-3 were subsequently oxidized into their respective poly(vinylene sulfone) copolymers CTP4-6 under green reaction conditions. The target copolymers CTP1-6 were characterized using various instrumental analysis techniques. Examination of the iodine adsorption properties of the copolymers revealed high iodine uptake properties, reaching 2360 mg g−1 for CTP2, and whose reusability tests proved its efficient regeneration, thus proving the importance of iron(II) clathrochelate polymers in iodine capture.

Synthesis of Metalorganic Copolymers Containing Various Contorted Units and Iron(II) Clathrochelates with Lateral Butyl Chains: Conspicuous Adsorbents of Lithium Ions and Methylene Blue

We report the synthesis of three highly soluble metalorganic copolymers, TCP1-3, that were made from a one-pot complexation of iron(II) clathrochelate units that are interconnected by various thioether-containing contorted groups. TCP1-3 were converted into their poly(vinyl sulfone) derivatives OTCP1-3 quantitatively via the selective oxidation of the thioether moieties into their respective sulfones. All of the copolymers, TCP1-3 and OTCP1-3, underwent structural analysis by various techniques; namely, ¹H- and ¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The copolymers were tested as potent lithium ions adsorbents revealing a maximum adsorption (q_m) value of 2.31 mg g^-1 for OTCP2. Furthermore, this same copolymer was found to be a promising adsorbent of methylene blue (MEB); an isothermal adsorption study divulged that OTCP2's uptake of MEB from an aqueous solution (following the Langmuir model) was, at maximum adsorption capacity, (q_m) of 480.77 mg g^-1; whereas the kinetic study divulged that the adsorption follows pseudo second-order kinetics with an equilibrium adsorption capacity (q_e,cal) of 45.40 mg g^-1.