Fine-Tuning Window Apertures in ZIF-8/67 Frameworks by Metal Ions and Temperature for High-Efficiency Molecular Sieving of Xylenes

Nanoscale solvent organization in metal-organic framework ZIF-8 probed by EPR of flexible β-phosphorylated nitroxides

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) draw increasing attention as nanoenvironments for chemical reactions, especially in the field of catalysis. Knowing the specifics of MOF cavities is decisive in many of these cases; yet, obtaining them in situ remains very challenging. We report the first direct assessment of the apparent polarity and solvent organization inside MOF cavities using a dedicated structurally flexible spin probe. A stable β-phosphorylated nitroxide radical was incorporated into the cavities of a prospective MOF ZIF-8 in trace amounts. The spectroscopic properties of this probe depend on local polarity, structuredness, stiffness and cohesive pressure and can be precisely monitored by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Using this approach, we have demonstrated experimentally that the cavities of bare ZIF-8 are sensed by guest molecules as highly non-polar inside. When various alcohols fill the cavities, remarkable self-organization of solvent molecules is observed leading to a higher apparent polarity in MOFs compared to the corresponding bulk alcohols. Accounting for such nanoorganization phenomena can be crucial for optimization of chemical reactions in MOFs, and the proposed methodology provides unique routes to study MOF cavities inside in situ, thus aiding in their various applications.

Highly Selective p-Xylene Separation from Mixtures of C8 Aromatics by a Nonporous Molecular Apohost

High and increasing production of separation of C8 aromatic isomers demands the development of purification methods that are efficient, scalable, and inexpensive, especially for p-xylene, PX, the largest volume C8 commodity. Herein, we report that 4-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-phenyl-1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3(2H)-dione (TPBD), a molecular compound that can be prepared and scaled up via solid-state synthesis, exhibits exceptional PX selectivity over each of the other C8 isomers, o-xylene (OX), m-xylene (MX), and ethylbenzene (EB). The apohost or α form of TPBD was found to exhibit conformational polymorphism in the solid state enabled by rotation of its triazole and benzene rings. TPBD-αI and TPBD-αII are nonporous polymorphs that transformed to the same PX inclusion compound, TPBD-PX, upon contact with liquid PX. TPBD enabled highly selective capture of PX, as established by competitive slurry experiments involving various molar ratios in binary, ternary, and quaternary mixtures of C8 aromatics. Binary selectivity values for PX as determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy and gas chromatography ranged from 22.4 to 108.4, setting new benchmarks for both PX/MX (70.3) and PX/EB (59.9) selectivity as well as close to benchmark selectivity for PX/OX (108.4). To our knowledge, TPBD is the first material of any class to exhibit such high across-the-board PX selectivity from quaternary mixtures of C8 aromatics under ambient conditions. Crystallographic and computational studies provide structural insight into the PX binding site in TPBD-PX, whereas thermal stability and capture kinetics were determined by variable-temperature powder X-ray diffraction and slurry tests, respectively. That TPBD offers benchmark PX selectivity and facile recyclability makes it a prototypal molecular compound for PX purification or capture under ambient conditions.

Structural and Adsorption Properties of ZIF-8-7 Hybrid Materials Synthesized by Acid Gas-Assisted and De Novo Routes

The tuning of micropore environments in zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) by mixed-linker synthesis has the potential for enabling new molecular separation properties. However, de novo synthesis of mixed-linker (hybrid) ZIFs is often challenging due to the disparate chemical properties of the different linkers. Here, we elucidate the structure and properties of an unconventional ZIF-8-7 hybrid material synthesized via a controlled-acid-gas-assisted degradation and reconstruction (solvent-assisted crystal redemption, SACRed) strategy. Selective insertion of benzimidazole (ZIF-7 linker) into ZIF-8 using SACRed is used as a facile method to generate a ZIF-8-7 hybrid material that is otherwise difficult to synthesize by de novo methods. Detailed crystal structure and textural characterizations clarify the significant differences in the microstructure of the SACRed-derived ZIF-8-7 hybrid material relative to a de novo synthesized hybrid of the same overall linker composition as well as the parent ZIF-8 material. Unary and binary adsorption measurements reveal the tunability of adsorption characteristics as well as the prevalence of nonideal cooperative mixture adsorption effects that lead to large deviations from predictions made with ideal adsorbed solution theory.

Design Principles for Using Amphiphilic Polymers To Create Microporous Water

Aqueous dispersions of microporous nanocrystals with dry, gas-accessible pores─referred to as "microporous water"─enable high densities of gas molecules to be transported through water. For many applications of microporous water, generalizable strategies are required to functionalize the external surface of microporous particles to control their dispersibility, stability, and interactions with other solution-phase components─including catalysts, proteins, and cells─while retaining as much of their internal pore volume as possible. Here, we establish design principles for the noncovalent surface functionalization of hydrophobic metal-organic frameworks with amphiphilic polymers that render the particles dispersible in water and enhance their hydrolytic stability. Specifically, we show that block co-polymers with persistence lengths that exceed the micropore aperture size of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) can dramatically enhance ZIF particle dispersibility and stability while preserving porosity and >80% of the theoretical O2 carrying capacity. Moreover, enhancements in hydrolytic stability are greatest when the polymer can form strong bonds to exposed metal sites on the external particle surface. More broadly, our insights provide guidelines for controlling the interface between polymers and metal-organic framework particles in aqueous environments to augment the properties of microporous water.

Fine-Tuning of the Pore Aperture and Framework Flexibility of Mixed-Metal (Zn/Co) Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8: An In Situ Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy Study under CO2 Gas Pressure

The mixed-metal (Zn/Co) strategy has been used to enhance the gas separation selectivity of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8)-based membranes. The enhancement in selectivity has been attributed to possible modifications in the grain boundary structure, pore architecture, and flexibility of the frameworks. In the present study, we used in situ positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) under varying CO2 pressure to investigate the tuning of the pore architecture and framework flexibility of mixed-metal (Zn/Co) ZIF-8 frameworks with varying Co contents. The random distribution of Zn and Co metal nodes within the highly crystalline frameworks having an SOD topology was established using electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The inherent aperture as well as cavity size of the frameworks, and the pore interconnectivity to the outer surface, were observed to vary with the Co content in ZIF-8 due to the random distribution of Zn and Co metal nodes in the frameworks. The aperture size is reduced with the incorporation of an additional metal (Zn or Co) in ZIF-67 or ZIF-8, respectively. The aperture size remains the smallest for a lower Co content (∼0.20) in ZIF-8. The framework flexibility determined by in situ PALS measurements under CO2 pressure continuously reduces with increasing Co content in ZIF-8. A smaller aperture size as well as low flexibility of ZIF-8 with a low Co content is seen to be directly correlated to a higher separation selectivity of membranes prepared with this mixed-metal composition.

Properties of Aliphatic Ligand-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks

Ligands with a purely aliphatic backbone are receiving rising attention in the chemistry of coordination polymers and metal-organic frameworks. Such unique features inherent to the aliphatic bridges as increased conformational freedom, non-polarizable core, and low light absorption provide rare and valuable properties for their derived MOFs. Applications of such compounds in stimuli-responsive materials, gas, and vapor adsorbents with high and unusual selectivity, light-emitting, and optical materials have extensively emerged in recent years. These properties, as well as other specific features of aliphatic-based metal-organic frameworks are summarized and analyzed in this short critical review. Advanced characterization techniques, which have been applied in the reported works to obtain important data on the crystal and molecular structures, dynamics, and functionalities, are also reviewed within a general discussion. In total, 132 references are included.

Spatial disposition of square-planar mononuclear nodes in metal-organic frameworks for C2H2/CO2 separation

The efficient separation of acetylene (C2H2) from its mixture with carbon dioxide (CO2) remains a challenging industrial process due to their close molecular sizes/shapes and similar physical properties. Herein, we report a microporous metal-organic framework (JNU-4) with square-planar mononuclear copper(ii) centers as nodes and tetrahedral organic linkers as spacers, allowing for two accessible binding sites per metal center for C2H2 molecules. Consequently, JNU-4 exhibits excellent C2H2 adsorption capacity, particularly at 298 K and 0.5 bar (200 cm3 g-1). Detailed computational studies confirm that C2H2 molecules are indeed predominantly located in close proximity to the square-planar copper centers on both sides. Breakthrough experiments demonstrate that JNU-4 is capable of efficiently separating C2H2 from a 50 : 50 C2H2/CO2 mixture over a broad range of flow rates, affording by far the largest C2H2 capture capacity (160 cm3 g-1) and fuel-grade C2H2 production (105 cm3 g-1, ≥98% purity) upon desorption. Simply by maximizing accessible open metal sites on mononuclear metal centers, this work presents a promising strategy to improve the C2H2 adsorption capacity and address the challenging C2H2/CO2 separation.

Shaping 90 wt% NanoMOFs into Robust Multifunctional Aerogels Using Tailored Bio-Based Nanofibrils

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are hybrid porous crystalline networks with tunable chemical and structural properties. However, their excellent potential is limited in practical applications by their hard-to-shape powder form, making it challenging to assemble MOFs into macroscopic composites with mechanical integrity. While a binder matrix enables hybrid materials, such materials have a limited MOF content and thus limited functionality. To overcome this challenge, nanoMOFs are combined with tailored same-charge high-aspect-ratio cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) to manufacture robust, wet-stable, and multifunctional MOF-based aerogels with 90 wt% nanoMOF loading. The porous aerogel architectures show excellent potential for practical applications such as efficient water purification, CO₂ and CH₄ gas adsorption and separation, and fire-safe insulation. Moreover, a one-step carbonization process enables these aerogels as effective structural energy-storage electrodes. This work exhibits the unique ability of high-aspect-ratio CNFs to bind large amounts of nanoMOFs in structured materials with outstanding mechanical integrity-a quality that is preserved even after carbonization. The demonstrated process is simple and fully discloses the intrinsic potential of the nanoMOFs, resulting in synergetic properties not found in the components alone, thus paving the way for MOFs in macroscopic multifunctional composites.

Discrimination of xylene isomers in a stacked coordination polymer

The separation and purification of xylene isomers is an industrially important but challenging process. Developing highly efficient adsorbents is crucial for the implementation of simulated moving bed technology for industrial separation of these isomers. Herein, we report a stacked one-dimensional coordination polymer {[Mn(dhbq)(H 2 O) 2 ], H 2 dhbq = 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone} that exhibits an ideal molecular recognition and sieving of xylene isomers. Its distinct temperature-adsorbate–dependent adsorption behavior enables full separation of p -, m -, and o -xylene isomers in both vapor and liquid phases. The delicate stimuli-responsive swelling of the structure imparts this porous material with exceptionally high flexibility and stability, well-balanced adsorption capacity, high selectivity, and fast kinetics at conditions mimicking industrial settings. This study may offer an alternative approach for energy-efficient and adsorption-based industrial xylene separation and purification processes.