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Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
Published on: June 7, 2018
Interplay between noble gases and MOFs: Insights from 129Xe and 83Kr NMR spectroscopy
Wanli Zhang1, Vinicius Martins1, Jeffrey Collins1
1Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada.
Abstract:
Efficient separation and storage of radioactive noble gas isotopes [krypton-85 (85Kr) and xenon-131m/133/135 (131m/133/135Xe)] from off-gas during spent nuclear fuel reprocessing are vital for environmental protection and noble gas recovery. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising adsorbents, yet atomic-level insights into Xe and Kr adsorption remain limited. Here, we report the first application of high-field solid-state 83Kr nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), alongside extensive 129Xe NMR, to investigate gas adsorption in eight MOFs representing three design strategies: ultramicroporous one-dimensional-channel MOFs with pore sizes matching noble gas diameters, functionalized MOFs, and MOFs with open metal sites. Single-gas and coadsorption studies reveal distinct adsorption sites, guest-host interactions, and gas dynamics in each MOF. Most MOFs retain crystallinity after exposure to 60-kilogray γ radiation. Several radiation-sensitive MOFs exhibit enhanced stability in the presence of Xe, suggesting that Xe adsorption enhances framework stability and may broaden the range of MOFs usable under γ radiation in nuclear off-gas separation. These findings offer valuable molecular-level design insights.
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