Enhanced CO2 Adsorption Affinity in a NbO-type MOF Constructed from a Low-Cost Diisophthalate Ligand with a Piperazine-Ring Bridge

A metal-organic framework (NPC-6) with an NbO topology based on a piperazine ring-bridged diisophthalate ligand was synthesized and characterized. The incorporated piperazine group leads to an enhanced adsorption affinity for CO2 in NPC-6, in which the CO2 uptake is 4.83 mmol g(-1) at 293 K and 1 bar, ranking among the top values of CO2 uptake on MOF materials. At 0.15 bar and 293 K, the NPC-6 adsorbs 1.07 mmol g(-1) of CO2 , which is about 55.1 % higher than that of the analogue MOF NOTT-101 under the same conditions. The enhanced CO2 uptake combined with comparable uptakes for CH4 and N2 leads to much higher selectivities for CO2 /CH4 and CO2 /N2 gas mixtures on NPC-6 than on NOTT-101. Furthermore, an N-alkylation is used in the synthesis of the PDIA ligand, leading to a much lower cost compared with that in the synthesis of ligands in the NOTT series, as the former does not require a palladium-based catalyst and borate esters. Thus, we conclude that NPC-6 is a promising candidate for CO2 capture applications.