Single-crystal 2D covalent organic frameworks for high-capacity methane storage.
Baoqiu Yu1,2, Felipe L Oliveira3,4, Wenliang Li5
1Guizhou Key Laboratory of Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China.
Nature Communications
|February 13, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed new single-crystal 2D covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with high surface areas for efficient gas storage. These advanced COFs demonstrate superior methane uptake, rivaling 3D metal-organic frameworks.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemistry
Background:
- 2D covalent organic frameworks (COFs) typically exhibit limited porosity and surface area compared to their 3D counterparts, hindering their use in gas storage.
- Polycrystalline nature of 2D COFs further restricts their performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize robust single-crystal 2D COFs with enhanced porosity and surface area.
- To investigate the impact of interlayer stacking engineering on COF properties for gas storage applications.
Main Methods:
- A substituent strategy was employed to create three single-crystal 2D COF isomers.
- Atom-resolution structures were determined using 3D electron diffraction.
- Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area and pore volume were measured for desolvated GZU-1.
Main Results:
- Three robust single-crystal 2D COF isomers were successfully synthesized.
- Precise engineering of interlayer distance in GZU-1 resulted in a BET surface area of ~2100 m² g⁻¹ and a pore volume of 1.40 cm³ g⁻¹.
- GZU-1 exhibited a volumetric methane uptake of 240 cm³ (STP) cm⁻³ at 273 K and 100 bar, outperforming other 2D COFs and comparable to 3D MOFs.
Conclusions:
- Interlayer stacking regulation is a viable strategy for designing highly porous single-crystal 2D COFs.
- The developed 2D COFs show significant potential for advanced gas storage applications.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Covalent Bonds
164.7K
Overview
164.7K
01:08Covalent Bonds
11.9K
Overview
When two atoms share electrons to complete their valence shells, they create a covalent bond. An atom's electronegativity—the force with which shared electrons are pulled towards an atom—determines how the electrons are shared. Molecules formed with covalent bonds can be either polar or nonpolar. Atoms with similar electronegativities form nonpolar covalent bonds; the electrons are shared equally. Atoms with different electronegativities share electrons unequally,...
When two atoms share electrons to complete their valence shells, they create a covalent bond. An atom's electronegativity—the force with which shared electrons are pulled towards an atom—determines how the electrons are shared. Molecules formed with covalent bonds can be either polar or nonpolar. Atoms with similar electronegativities form nonpolar covalent bonds; the electrons are shared equally. Atoms with different electronegativities share electrons unequally,...
11.9K
02:18Network Covalent Solids
16.2K
Network covalent solids contain a three-dimensional network of covalently bonded atoms as found in the crystal structures of nonmetals like diamond, graphite, silicon, and some covalent compounds, such as silicon dioxide (sand) and silicon carbide (carborundum, the abrasive on sandpaper). Many minerals have networks of covalent bonds.
To break or to melt a covalent network solid, covalent bonds must be broken. Because covalent bonds are relatively strong, covalent network solids are typically...
To break or to melt a covalent network solid, covalent bonds must be broken. Because covalent bonds are relatively strong, covalent network solids are typically...
16.2K
02:46Covalent Bonding and Lewis Structures
63.2K
Compared to ionic bonds, which results from the transfer of electrons between metallic and nonmetallic atoms, covalent bonds result from the mutual attraction of atoms for a “shared” pair of electrons.
63.2K
01:47Lung Capacity
56.5K
The air in the lungs is measured in volumes and capacities. Lung volume measures reflect the amount of air taken in, released, or left over after a lung function, like a single inhalation. Lung capacity measures are sums of two or more lung volume measures.
56.5K
02:04Covalently Linked Protein Regulators
9.7K
Proteins can undergo many types of post-translational modifications, often in response to changes in their environment. These modifications play an important role in the function and stability of these proteins. Covalently linked molecules include functional groups, such as methyl, acetyl, and phosphate groups, and also small proteins, such as ubiquitin. There are around 200 different types of covalent regulators that have been identified.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein....
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein....
9.7K