Introduction of Flexibility into a Metal-Organic Framework to Promote Hg(II) Capture through Adaptive Deformation

The development of a practical Hg(II) adsorbent is highly important for both environmental protection and public health. Herein, an adaptive metal-organic framework (MOF; FJI-H30) has been prepared from a highly flexible ligand [tris(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)amine] and Co(SCN)₂ with cheap Hg(II) adsorption sites (SCN^- groups) that not only has excellent chemical stability but also can capture Hg(II) from aqueous solution with high adsorption capacity (705 mg g^-1). Moreover, it also has good anti-interference ability and can be used repeatedly and large-scale prepared. Further researches demonstrate that the relatively high Hg(II) adsorption capacity originates from the adsorbed Hg(II)-induced deformation of FJI-H30, and such an adaptive deformation will reduce the potential repulsive forces between the adsorbed Hg(II) ions, enabling almost all Hg(II) absorption sites to adsorb Hg(II) ions. Finally, how to induce the deformation of FJI-H30 by adsorbed Hg(II) also has been studied in detail. Our work not only provides a practical Hg(II) adsorbent for wastewater treatment but also offers a novel strategy for the design of novel MOFs for efficient heavy-metal-ion removal.