Massive Pressure Amplification by Stimulated Contraction of Mesoporous Frameworks*

Herein we demonstrate mesoporous frameworks interacting with carbon dioxide leading to stimulated structural contractions and massive out-of-equilibrium pressure amplification well beyond ambient pressure. Carbon dioxide, a non-toxic and non-flammable working medium, is promising for the development of pressure-amplifying frameworks for pneumatic technologies and safety systems. The strong interaction of the fluid with the framework even contracts DUT-46, a framework hitherto considered as non-flexible. Synchrotron-based in situ PXRD/adsorption experiments reveal the characteristic contraction pressure for DUT-49 pressure amplification in the range of 350-680 kPa. The stimulated framework contraction expels 1.1 to 2.4 mmol g^-1 CO₂ leading to autonomous pressure amplification in a pneumatic demonstrator system up to 428 kPa. According to system level estimations even higher theoretical pressure amplification may be achieved between 535 and 1011 kPa.