Metal Organic Framework Impregnated Nanofibrous Aerogels: A 3D Structured Matrix for CO₂ Capture

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Mesoporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) show potential for CO2 capture.
• Nanofibrous aerogels (NFAs) offer a lightweight, porous material platform with mechanical strength.
• Combining MOFs and NFAs can enhance CO2 capture capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize cellulose diacetate (CDA)-silica hybrid nanofibrous aerogels (NFAs) incorporating mesoporous UiO-66-NH2 MOF.
• To evaluate the CO2 adsorption performance and selectivity of the developed NFA material.
• To assess the mechanical properties and stability of the NFA for practical CO2 capture applications.

Main Methods:

• Freeze-drying process to create CDA-silica@UiO-66-NH2 NFAs.
• Characterization of hierarchical porous structure and MOF loading.
• CO2 and N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms and selectivity measurements.
• Mechanical testing for compressibility and fatigue resistance.

Main Results:

• Hierarchical porous structure achieved with MOF loadings up to 80 wt %.
• CO2 uptake of 2.5 mmol/g at 35 °C and atmospheric pressure for NFA with 80 wt % MOF.
• High CO2/N2 selectivity (Sads = 18.2 at 298 K) in a mixed gas environment.
• Excellent mechanical resiliency and MOF integration stability during compression cycles.

Conclusions:

• CDA-silica@UiO-66-NH2 NFAs offer a scalable and effective material for selective CO2 capture.
• The material combines high adsorption performance, selectivity, structural integrity, and ease of fabrication.
• This approach presents a promising advancement for addressing real-world CO2 capture challenges.