Unprecedentedly high selective adsorption of gas mixtures in rho zeolite-like metal-organic framework: a molecular...

We report a molecular simulation study for the separation of industrially important gas mixtures (CO(2)/H(2), CO(2)/CH(4), and CO(2)/N(2)) in rho zeolite-like metal-organic framework (rho-ZMOF). Rho-ZMOF contains a wide-open anionic framework and charge-balancing extraframework Na(+) ions. Two types of binding sites for Na(+) ions are identified in the framework. Site I is in the single eight-membered ring, whereas site II is in the alpha-cage. Na(+) ions at site I have a stronger affinity for the framework and thus a smaller mobility. The binding sites in rho-ZMOF resemble those in its inorganic counterpart rho-zeolite. CO(2) is adsorbed predominantly over other gases because of its strong electrostatic interactions with the charged framework and the presence of Na(+) ions acting as additional adsorption sites. At ambient temperature and pressure, the CO(2) selectivities are 1800 for the CO(2)/H(2) mixture, 80 for the CO(2)/CH(4) mixture, and 500 for the CO(2)/N(2) mixture. Compared with other MOFs and nanoporous materials reported to date, rho-ZMOF exhibits unprecedentedly high selective adsorption for these gas mixtures. This work represents the first simulation study to characterize extraframework ions and examine gas separation in a charged ZMOF. The simulation results reveal that rho-ZMOF is a promising candidate for the separation of syngas, natural gas, and flue gas.