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Reticular chemistry guided function customization: a case study of constructing low-polarity channels for efficient
Jiantang Li1, Zitong Song1, Xia Zhou1
1Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University Jinhua 321004 P. R. China dmwang@zjnu.edu.cn.
Chemical Science
|March 28, 2025
Summary
A novel metal-organic framework (MOF), ZJNU-401, was synthesized using a "bending-bridge" strategy. This MOF efficiently separates ethylene from propylene and ethane due to its unique pore structure and low-polarity surface.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Reticular chemistry principles guide the design of novel materials.
- Traditional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) often contain open metal sites (OMSs).
- Separation of olefins like ethylene and propylene is crucial in the petrochemical industry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a new MOF using a "bending-bridge" strategy.
- To create a MOF with a low-polarity pore surface and no OMSs.
- To achieve selective adsorption of C3H6 and C2H6 over C2H4.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a novel MOF, ZJNU-401, via the "bending-bridge" strategy.
- Characterization of the MOF's structure and pore environment.
- Gas adsorption and selectivity experiments.
- Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations.
Main Results:
- The "bending-bridge" strategy successfully redirected coordination, forming ZJNU-401.
- ZJNU-401 features a low-polarity pore surface and avoids OMSs.
- The MOF demonstrated high uptake capacity for C3H6 and C2H6 over C2H4.
- A C3H6 to C2H4 selectivity ratio of 15.45 was achieved, enabling efficient C2H4 purification (>99.95%).
- DFT calculations confirmed stronger interactions with C3H6 and C2H6 due to O active sites.
Conclusions:
- The "bending-bridge" strategy is effective for designing MOFs with tailored pore environments.
- ZJNU-401 shows excellent performance for separating C2H4 from C3H6/C2H4 mixtures.
- The MOF's nonpolar pore surface and specific active sites are key to its selective adsorption capabilities.
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