Constant Volume Gate-Opening by Freezing Rotational Dynamics in Microporous Organically Pillared Layered Silicates

Microporous organically pillared layered silicates (MOPS) are a class of microporous hybrid materials that, by varying pillar density, allows for optimization of guest recognition without the need to explore different framework topologies. MOPS are found to be capable of discriminating two very similar gases, carbon dioxide and acetylene, by selective gate-opening solely through quenching pillar dynamics. Contrary to conventional gate-opening in metal organic frameworks, the additional adsorption capacity is realized without macroscopic volume changes, thus avoiding mechanical stress on the framework. Of the two gases studied, only CO₂ can accomplish freezing of pillar dynamics. Moreover, the shape of the slit-type micropores in MOPS can easily be fine-tuned by reducing the charge density of the silicate layers. This concomitantly reduces the Coulomb attraction of cationic interlayer space and anionic host layers. Surprisingly, we found that reducing the charge density then alters the gate-opening mechanism to a conventional structural gate-opening involving an increase in volume.