Magnetoelectricity-Mediated Tunable Absorption and Release of Peroxide Dianions

Peroxide dianion (O₂^2-) has strong oxidizing activity and ease of proton abstraction and is extremely unstable. Direct and controllable adsorption and release of O₂^2- has large application implication and is a large challenge so far. Here, we use a unique metal (Ni)-organic (diphenylalanine, DPA) framework (MOF), Ni(DPA)₂, as adsorbents for absorption and release of O₂^2-. This MOF structure has room-temperature magnetoelectricity via distortion of the Ni-centered octahedron {NiN₂O₄} and thus possesses a tunable ferroelectric polarization under applied electric/magnetic fields. Controllable adsorption and release of O₂^2- are realized in such a MOF system via electrochemical redox measurements. Structural/spectroscopic characterization and calculations reveal that a number of NH active sites in the nanopores of MOF can effectively adsorb O₂^2- by hydrogen bonds and then tunable ferroelectric polarization induces controllable release of O₂^2- under applied magnetic fields. This work presents a constructive way for controllable adsorption and release of reactive oxygen species.