Xiaoliang Si

High and selective CO2 uptake, H2storage and methanol sensing on the amine-decorated 12-connected MOF CAU-1

The amine-decorated microporous metal–organic framework CAU-1 was readily synthesized and activated using a home-made efficient protocol. It exhibited a high heat of adsorption for CO2, high CO2 uptake capacity, and an impressive selectivity for CO2 over N2. At 273 K and up to 1 atm, CO2 uptake capacity can reach as much as 7.2 mmol g−1. Comparatively, the CH4 and N2 uptakes at 273 K and 1 atm were only 1.34 mmol g−1 and 0.37 mmol g−1, respectively. The CO2/N2 selectivity was 101 : 1 at 273 K. The isosteric heat of adsorption (Qst) for CO2 was ∼48 kJ mol−1 at the onset of adsorption, and it decreases to ∼28 kJ mol−1 at higher CO2 pressures. Furthermore, CAU-1 can adsorb 2.0 wt% and 4.0 wt% hydrogen at 77 K under 1 atm and 30 atm, respectively. The adsorption characteristics of CAU-1 for methanol investigated in situ with a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), indicated that this particular MOF structure can be used as a highly sensitive sensor for methanol detection such as direct methanol fuel cells.

Mesoporous metal–organic frameworks: design and applications

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), which are constructed from the assembly of organic ligands with metal ions or metal clusters, have high potential applications in the fields of gas storage, separations and catalysis. MOFs involving mesopores are considered to have specific performance in such fields. In this mini review, we are mainly focussing on the recent developments in mesoporous MOFs including the design strategies and their most important applications.

Polarized micropores in a novel 3D metal-organic framework for selective adsorption properties.

A novel 3D porous metal-organic framework with 1D polarized channels was synthesized, and its adsorption properties for gas separation and chemical sensing were studied. The framework shows a preferential adsorption of CO(2) over N(2) with a selectivity of 22:1. It also exhibits a very good sensitivity to water with respect to most of the organic solvents in view of chemical sensing applications.