Experimental and Computational Mechanisms that Govern Long-Term Stability of CO₂-Adsorbed ZIF-8-Based Porous Liquids

Porous liquids (PLs) based on the zeolitic imidazole framework ZIF-8 are attractive systems for carbon capture since the hydrophobic ZIF framework can be solvated in aqueous solvent systems without porous host degradation. However, solid ZIF-8 is known to degrade when exposed to CO₂ in wet environments, and therefore the long-term stability of ZIF-8-based PLs is unknown. Through aging experiments, the long-term stability of a ZIF-8 PL formed using the water, ethylene glycol, and 2-methylimidazole solvent system was systematically examined, and the mechanisms of degradation were elucidated. The PL was found to be stable for several weeks, with no ZIF framework degradation observed after aging in N₂ or air. However, for PLs aged in a CO₂ atmosphere, formation of a secondary phase occurred within 1 day from the degradation of the ZIF-8 framework. From the computational and structural evaluation of the effects of CO₂ on the PL solvent mixture, it was identified that the basic environment of the PL caused ethylene glycol to react with CO₂ forming carbonate species. These carbonate species further react within the PL to degrade ZIF-8. The mechanisms governing this process involves a multistep pathway for PL degradation and lays out a long-term evaluation strategy of PLs for carbon capture. Additionally, it clearly demonstrates the need to examine the reactivity and aging properties of all components in these complex PL systems in order to fully assess their stabilities and lifetimes.