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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Electrophoretic Crystallization of Ultrathin High-performance Metal-organic Framework Membranes
Published on: August 16, 2018
A Bifunctional Zn(II) Metal-Organic Framework for C3H6/C2H4 Separation and Fluorescent High-Temperature Sensing
Wei Wang1,2, Hui Hu1, Xue-Hui Liu1
1Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Monocrystalline Silicon Semiconductor Materials and Technology, Shandong Universities Engineering Research Center of Integrated Circuits Functional Materials and Expanded Applications, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Dezhou University, Dezhou253023, P. R. China.
Abstract:
The development of multifunctional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that combine efficient gas separation with reliable sensing remains a challenging but highly desirable goal. Herein, we report a Zn-based MOF, {[Zn3(NTB)2(bib)]·(DMA)2·(H2O)4}n (denoted as DZU-211-Zn), constructed from 4,4',4''-nitrilotribenzoic acid (H3NTB) and 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-yl)-butane (bib). DZU-211-Zn exhibits excellent separation performance for propylene/ethylene (C3H6/C2H4) mixtures, with a C3H6 uptake of 3.0 mmol g-1 and a C2H4 uptake of 2.3 mmol g-1 at 298 K and 1 bar, and a C3H6/C2H4 selectivity above 10. Dynamic breakthrough experiments confirm efficient and repeatable separation over multiple cycles. Meanwhile, the material displays intense blue fluorescence (quantum yield, 38.4%) with a highly linear, reversible, temperature-dependent emission quenching from room temperature up to 473 K, affording a relative sensitivity ranging from 0.35% K-1 at 298 K to 0.88% K-1 at 473 K. To the best of our knowledge, DZU-211-Zn represents one of the rare examples of a MOF that integrates light-hydrocarbon separation and high-temperature fluorescence thermometry in a single platform. This work paves the way for the construction of multifunctional MOF materials.
