Dual-function Ni-based MOF for hydrogen storage and CO₂ to carbonate cyclic catalysis

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Growing demand for sustainable technologies necessitates advanced materials for environmental applications.
• Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer tunable properties for gas adsorption and catalysis.
• Nickel-based MOFs (Ni-MOFs) are explored for their potential in energy and environmental sectors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel Ni-MOF, Ni-URJC-3, for hydrogen (H₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) applications.
• To evaluate the performance of Ni-URJC-3 in H₂ storage and CO₂ adsorption.
• To investigate Ni-URJC-3 as a heterogeneous catalyst for CO₂ cycloaddition reactions.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Ni-URJC-3, a nickel-based MOF featuring azo groups in its organic linker.
• Gas adsorption measurements for H₂ and CO₂ to determine storage capacities and adsorption enthalpies.
• Catalytic testing of Ni-URJC-3 for the cycloaddition of CO₂ with epoxides.

Main Results:

• Ni-URJC-3 achieved a high H₂ gravimetric capacity of 3.7 wt% and volumetric uptake of 59.5 g L^-1, nearing U.S. DOE targets.
• The material demonstrated a high CO₂ adsorption enthalpy of 35.8 kJ mol^-1.
• Ni-URJC-3 exhibited efficient catalytic activity in CO₂ cycloaddition reactions, outperforming other Ni-MOFs.

Conclusions:

• Ni-URJC-3 is a promising multifunctional MOF for environmental applications, including efficient gas storage and CO₂ utilization.
• The presence of azo groups in the MOF linker significantly enhances adsorption and catalytic properties.
• This research contributes to the development of advanced materials for sustainable energy and environmental solutions.