Multifunctional Fourfold Interpenetrating Diamondoid Network: Gas Separation and Fabrication of Palladium Nanoparticles

In situ confinement of ultra-small metal nanoparticles in redox-active zirconium MOFs for catalysis

Herein, we successfully fabricated ultra-small metal nanoparticles into two stable Zr-based metal-organic frameworks via in situ redox reactions between triphenylamine and the corresponding metal ions to afford Pd NPs@1 and Pd NPs@2, which exhibit excellent activity and reusability for Suzuki coupling reactions as heterogeneous catalysts.

Sr(II) and Ba(II) Alkaline Earth Metal-Organic Frameworks (AE-MOFs) for Selective Gas Adsorption, Energy Storage, and Environmental Application

Two new alkaline earth metal-organic frameworks (AE-MOFs) containing Sr(II) (UPJS-15) or Ba(II) (UPJS-16) cations and extended tetrahedral linker (MTA) were synthesized and characterized in detail (UPJS stands for University of Pavol Jozef Safarik). Single-crystal X-ray analysis (SC-XRD) revealed that the materials are isostructural and, in their frameworks, one-dimensional channels are present with the size of ~11 × 10 Å2. The activation process of the compounds was studied by the combination of in situ heating infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermal analysis (TA) and in situ high-energy powder X-ray diffraction (HE-PXRD), which confirmed the stability of compounds after desolvation. The prepared compounds were investigated as adsorbents of different gases (Ar, N2, CO2, and H2). Nitrogen and argon adsorption measurements showed that UPJS-15 has SBET area of 1321 m2 g-1 (Ar) / 1250 m2 g-1 (N2), and UPJS-16 does not adsorb mentioned gases. From the environmental application, the materials were studied as CO2 adsorbents, and both compounds adsorb CO2 with a maximum capacity of 22.4 wt.% @ 0 °C; 14.7 wt.% @ 20 °C and 101 kPa for UPJS-15 and 11.5 wt.% @ 0°C; 8.4 wt.% @ 20 °C and 101 kPa for UPJS-16. According to IAST calculations, UPJS-16 shows high selectivity (50 for CO2/N2 10:90 mixture and 455 for CO2/N2 50:50 mixture) and can be applied as CO2 adsorbent from the atmosphere even at low pressures. The increased affinity of materials for CO2 was also studied by DFT modelling, which revealed that the primary adsorption sites are coordinatively unsaturated sites on metal ions, azo bonds, and phenyl rings within the MTA linker. Regarding energy storage, the materials were studied as hydrogen adsorbents, but the materials showed low H2 adsorption properties: 0.19 wt.% for UPJS-15 and 0.04 wt.% for UPJS-16 @ -196 °C and 101 kPa. The enhanced CO2/H2 selectivity could be used to scavenge carbon dioxide from hydrogen in WGS and DSR reactions. The second method of applying samples in the area of energy storage was the use of UPJS-15 as an additive in a lithium-sulfur battery. Cyclic performance at a cycling rate of 0.2 C showed an initial discharge capacity of 337 mAh g-1, which decreased smoothly to 235 mAh g-1 after 100 charge/discharge cycles.

Capture, Storage, and Release of Oxygen by Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)

Oxygen is a critical gas for medical and industrial settings. Much of today's global oxygen supply is via inefficient technologies such as cryogenic distillation, membranes or zeolites. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) promise a superior alternative for oxygen separation, as their fundamental chemistry can in principle be tailored for reversible and selective oxygen capture. We evaluate the characteristics for reversible and selective uptake of oxygen by MOFs, focussing on redox-active sites. Key characteristics for separation can also be seen in MOFs for oxygen storage roles. Engineering solutions to release adsorbed oxygen from the MOFs are discussed including Temperature Swing Adsorption (TSA), Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) and the highly efficient Magnetic Induction Swing Adsorption (MISA). We conclude with the applications and outlooks for oxygen capture, storage and release, and the likely impacts the next generation of MOFs will have on industry and the broader community.

Tröger's Base Network Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (TB-PIMs) with Tunable Pore Size for Heterogeneous Catalysis

Heterogeneous catalysis plays a pivotal role in the preparation of value-added chemicals, and it works more efficiently when combined with porous materials and supports. Because of that, a detailed assessment of porosity and pore size is essential when evaluating the performance of new heterogeneous catalysts. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a series of novel microporous Tröger’s base polymers and copolymers (TB-PIMs) with tunable pore size. The basicity of TB sites is exploited to catalyze the Knoevenagel condensation of benzaldehydes and malononitrile, and the dimension of the pores can be systematically adjusted with an appropriate selection of monomers and comonomers. The tunability of the pore size provides the enhanced accessibility of the catalytic sites for substrates, which leads to a great improvement in conversions, with the best results achieving completion in only 20 min. In addition, it enables the use of large benzaldehydes, which is prevented when using polymers with very small pores, typical of conventional PIMs. The catalytic reaction is more efficient than the corresponding homogeneous counterpart and is ultimately optimized with the addition of a small amount of a solvent, which facilitates the swelling of the pores and leads to a further improvement in the performance and to a better carbon economy. Molecular dynamic modeling of the copolymers’ structures is employed to describe the swellability of flexible chains, helping the understanding of the improved performance and demonstrating the great potential of these novel materials.

Advanced strategies in Metal-Organic Frameworks for CO2 Capture and Separation

The continuous carbon dioxide (CO₂ ) gas emissions associated with fossil fuel production, valorization, and utilization are serious challenges to the global environment. Therefore, several developments of CO₂ capture, separation, transportation, storage, and valorization have been explored. Consequently, we documented a comprehensive review of the most advanced strategies adopted in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for CO₂ capture and separation. The enhancements in CO₂ capture and separation are generally achieved due to the chemistry of MOFs by controlling pore window, pore size, open-metal sites, acidity, chemical doping, post or pre-synthetic modifications. The chemistry of defects engineering, breathing in MOFs, functionalization in MOFs, hydrophobicity, and topology are the salient advanced strategies, recently reported in MOFs for CO₂ capture and separation. Therefore, this review summarizes MOF materials' advancement explaining different strategies and their role in the CO₂ mitigations. The study also provided useful insights into key areas for further investigations.

Flexible and porous 2D layered structures based on mixed-linker metal-organic frameworks for gas sorption studies

Layered structures of flexible mixed-linker metal-organic frameworks termed IRHs-(4 and 5) (IRH = Institut de Recherche sur l'Hydrogène) were synthesized by mixing cyclam, tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene (TCPB), and copper and zinc metal salts respectively. The new materials characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction exhibited the features of HOFs and MOFs. Their structures are formed by coordination and hydrogen bonds that link metallocyclam (with Cu or Zn) and TCPB to a 2D sheet which is further packed to form a 3D structure with 1D microchannels. Remarkably, the as-synthesized IRHs-(4 and 5) contain DMF in the channels that can be exchanged with DCM and afterward removed from the framework by heating without losing their single-crystallinity. This enabled an easy elucidation of the structural transformations by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction analyses. Experimental studies of single-component adsorption isotherms of pure CO2, CH4, and N2 gases have been carried out for all activated IRHs. Based on the obtained adsorption isotherms, theoretical calculations using Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory (IAST) have been performed to predict the selectivity of equimolar CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 (1 : 1) binary mixtures. The simulations predicted outstanding selectivity for CO2/N2 than for CO2/CH4 at low pressures, reaching 185 for IRH-4 and 130 for IRH-5 at 1 bar.

One-Pot Synthesis of Ultra-Small Pt Dispersed on Hierarchical Zeolite Nanosheet Surfaces for Mild Hydrodeoxygenation of 4-Propylphenol

The rational design of ultra-small metal clusters dispersed on a solid is of crucial importance in modern nanotechnology and catalysis. In this contribution, the concept of catalyst fabrication with a very ultra-small size of platinum nanoparticles supported on a hierarchical zeolite surface via a one-pot hydrothermal system was demonstrated. Combining the zeolite gel with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a ligand precursor during the crystallization process, it allows significant improvement of the metal dispersion on a zeolite support. To illustrate the beneficial effect of ultra-small metal nanoparticles on a hierarchical zeolite surface as a bifunctional catalyst, a very high catalytic performance of almost 100% of cycloalkane product yield can be achieved in the consecutive mild hydrodeoxygenation of 4-propylphenol, which is a lignin-derived model molecule. This instance opens up perspectives to improve the efficiency of a catalyst for the sustainable conversion of biomass-derived compounds to fuels.

Metal-Organic Frameworks as a Platform for CO2 Capture and Chemical Processes: Adsorption, Membrane Separation, Catalytic-Conversion, and Electrochemical Reduction of CO2

The continuous rise in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) is of significant global concern. Several methodologies and technologies are proposed and applied by the industries to mitigate the emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere. This review article offers a large number of studies that aim to capture, convert, or reduce CO2 by using a superb porous class of materials (metal-organic frameworks, MOFs), aiming to tackle this worldwide issue. MOFs possess several remarkable features ranging from high surface area and porosity to functionality and morphology. As a result of these unique features, MOFs were selected as the main class of porous material in this review article. MOFs act as an ideal candidate for the CO2 capture process. The main approaches for capturing CO2 are pre-combustion capture, post-combustion capture, and oxy-fuel combustion capture. The applications of MOFs in the carbon capture processes were extensively overviewed. In addition, the applications of MOFs in the adsorption, membrane separation, catalytic conversion, and electrochemical reduction processes of CO2 were also studied in order to provide new practical and efficient techniques for CO2 mitigation.

A series of four novel alkaline earth metal-organic frameworks constructed of Ca(ii), Sr(ii), Ba(ii) ions and tetrahedral MTB linker: structural diversity, stability study and low/high-pressure gas adsorption properties

A series of four novel microporous alkaline earth metal-organic frameworks (AE-MOFs) containing methanetetrabenzoate linker (MTB) with composition {[Ca4(μ8-MTB)2]·2DMF·4H2O} n (UPJS-6), {[Ca4(μ4-O)(μ8-MTB)3/2(H2O)4]·4DMF·4H2O} n (UPJS-7), {[Sr3(μ7-MTB)3/2]·4DMF·7H2O} n (UPJS-8) and {[Ba3(μ7-MTB)3/2(H2O)6]·2DMF·4H2O} n (UPJS-9) (UPJS = University of Pavol Jozef Safarik) have been successfully prepared and characterized. The framework stability and thermal robustness of prepared materials were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and high-energy powder X-ray diffraction (HE-PXRD). MOFs were tested as adsorbents for different gases at various pressures and temperatures. Nitrogen and argon adsorption showed that the activated samples have moderate BET surface areas: 103 m2 g-1 (N2)/126 m2 g-1 (Ar) for UPJS-7'', 320 m2 g-1 (N2)/358 m2 g-1 (Ar) for UPJS-9'' and UPJS-8'' adsorbs only a limited amount of N2 and Ar. It should be noted that all prepared compounds adsorb carbon dioxide with storage capacities ranging from 3.9 to 2.4 wt% at 20 °C and 1 atm, and 16.4-13.5 wt% at 30 °C and 20 bar. Methane adsorption isotherms show no adsorption at low pressures and with increasing pressure the storage capacity increases to 4.0-2.9 wt% of CH4 at 30 °C and 20 bar. Compounds displayed the highest hydrogen uptake of 3.7-1.8 wt% at -196 °C and 800 Torr among MTB containing MOFs.

A review on production of metal organic frameworks (MOF) for CO2 adsorption

The environment sustenance and preservation of global climate are known as the crucial issues of the world today. Currently, the crisis of global warming due to CO₂ emission has turned into a paramount concern. To address such a concern, diverse CO₂ capture and sequestration techniques (CCS) have been introduced so far. In line with this, Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have been considered as the newest and most promising material for CO₂ adsorption and separation. Due to their outstanding properties, this new class of porous materials a have exhibited a conspicuous potential for gas separation technologies especially for CO₂ storage and separation. Thus, the present review paper is aimed to discuss the adsorption properties of CO₂ on the MOFs based on the adsorption mechanisms and the design of the MOF structures. In addition, the main challenge associated with using this prominent porous material has been mentioned.

Zirconium metal-organic frameworks incorporating tetrathiafulvalene linkers: robust and redox-active matrices for in situ confinement of metal nanoparticles

Redox-active metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with highly ordered porous structures and redox tunability, have attracted research interest in the fields of catalysis, energy storage, and electrochemical sensing. However, the chemical lability has limited the application scope of many redox-active MOFs. Herein, we selected stable Zr₆ inorganic nodes and redox-active tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-based linkers to construct two robust, redox-active MOFs, namely compounds 1 ([Zr₆(TTFTB)₂O₈(OH₂)₈]) and 2 ([Zr₆(Me-TTFTB)_1.5O₄(OH)₄(C₆H₅COO)₆]) (TTFTB = tetrathiafulvalene tetrabenzoate; Me-TTFTB = tetrathiafulvalene tetramethylbenzoate). The structure and topology of the MOFs were controlled by tuning the linker conformation through steric effects, resulting in a variety of pore structures from microporous channels (compound 1) to hierarchically micro/mesoporous cages (compound 2). Compound 2 shows high porosity with a BET surface area of 1932 m² g^-1 and strong chemical stability in aqueous solutions with pH ranging from 1 to 12. Furthermore, the reductive TTF moieties allow for in situ generation and stabilization of ultra-small noble metal (Ag, Pd, and Au) nanoparticles by incubating MOFs in the respective metal salt solution. Single crystal structures, TEM images, and pore size distribution data from N₂ adsorption measurements indicated that the metal nanoparticles were mostly placed in the small cubic cavities of hierarchically porous compound 2, leaving the large cages open for substrate diffusion. As a proof of concept, Pd NPs@compound 2 was utilized as a heterogeneous catalyst for aerobic oxidation of alcohols, showing noteworthy activity and recyclability.

A two-fold 3D interpenetrating cyanido-bridged network based on the octa-coordinated [Mo(CN)8]4− building block

By varying the reaction conditions, three CN-bridged coordination polymers of different dimensionalities and topologies are obtained from the same building blocks.

Metal–Organic Framework (MOF)-based CO2 Adsorbents

Rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere resulting from fossil fuel combustion is one of the most significant global environmental concerns. Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), primarily post-combustion CO2 capture, is an essential research area to reduce CO2 levels and avoid environmental destabilization. Recently, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been attracting attention in the scientific community for potential applications in gas storage and separation, including CCS, owing to their novel properties, such as a large surface area, tunable pore shape and size, and tailored chemical functionality. This chapter starts with a brief introduction about the significance of CO2 adsorption and separation, followed by how MOF-based research endeavors were initiated and explored, and why MOFs are unique for gas adsorption. Secondly, we reviewed the relationship between CO2 adsorption and MOF properties including surface area, pore size and volume, amine functionality, nature of linkers, and structural flexibility, and analyzed the reported data based on the possible adsorption mechanism. The humidity effects on CO2 capture over MOFs and implementation of MOF composites were considered as well. Finally, some conclusions on the status of the developed MOFs and perspectives for future research on MOFs for the practical application of CO2 adsorption and separation were mentioned.

The reduction of 4-nitrophenol and 2-nitroaniline by the incorporation of Ni@Pd MNPs into modified UiO-66-NH2 metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with tetrathia-azacyclopentadecane

UiO-66-NH₂/TTACP/Ni@Pd MNPs exhibited excellent catalytic activity for the reduction of 2-nitroaniline and 4-nitrophenol.

Perturbations and 3R in carbon management

Perturbations in various carbon pools like biological, geological, oceanic, and missing carbon sink affect its global data, which are generally neglected or ignored in routine calculations. These natural and anthropogenic events need to be considered before projecting a sustainable carbon management plan. These plans have both general and experimental aspects. General plans should focus on (a) minimizing emission; (b) maximizing environmentally sound reuse, reduce, and recycling; (c) effective treatment; and (d) converting carbon into valuable products with atom economy. Experimental carbon management plans involving various biological and chemical techniques with limitation in terms of research level and economic feasibility. Chemical options have benefits of higher productivity and wider product range, but it suffers from its higher-energy requirements and environmental unfriendliness. In contrast to this, biological options are more selective and less energy intensive, but their productivity is very low. Hence, there is a requirement of hybrid process where the benefits of both the options, i.e., biological and chemical, can be reaped. In view of above, the proposed review targets to highlight the various perturbations in the global carbon cycle and their effects; study the currently practiced options of carbon management, specifically in light of 3R principle; and propose various new hybrid methods by compatible combinations of chemical and biological processes to develop better and safer carbon management. These methods are hypothetical so they may require further research and validations but may provide a comprehensive base for developing such management methods.

Metal–organic frameworks meet metal nanoparticles: synergistic effect for enhanced catalysis

This review highlights recent advances in the hybridization of metal–organic frameworks and metal nanoparticles for their synergistically enhanced catalysis.

The Road to MOF-Related Functional Materials and Beyond: Desire, Design, Decoration, and Development

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which are known as a class of porous coordination polymers, have proven to be of great significance to manifold applications, owing to their fascinating topology, ultrahigh porosity, enormous internal surface area, and the combination of being as rigid as inorganic materials and as flexible as organic materials . In this review, we give a concise history of the development of MOFs as functional materials prior to our entry into this area in 2006, then a summary of our road to participate in and extend the outline of the research in MOFs chemistry, as well as the challenge in further designing applicable functional materials. We describe not only the road of evolution from the past, present, and future of this chemistry, but also the road to finalize a functional material from the desire to the design, synthesis, and postmodification of a MOF. Throughout the review, we particularly emphasize the improvements in the application of MOFs as heterogeneous catalysts, such as employing MOFs as one component for the construction of composites, and their extended scope in tough catalytic reactions. Examples of applications in gas storage and separation, small molecular sensing, and our perspectives for future applications triggered by MOFs, are also introduced.

A novel zinc(ii) metal–organic framework with a diamond-like structure: synthesis, study of thermal robustness and gas adsorption properties

A novel 3D metal–organic framework with a diamond-like structure has been synthesised and structurally characterized. Adsorption of Ar, CO₂, H₂ and N₂ has been studied. Heats of CO₂ and H₂ adsorption were calculated according to the Clausius–Clapeyron equation.

Inorganic nanoparticles in porous coordination polymers

This review highlights studies on the synthesis, characterization, and functions of the inorganic nanoparticles in porous coordination polymers.

Metal-organic framework composites: from fundamentals to applications

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of crystallized porous polymeric materials consisting of metal ions or clusters linked together by organic bridging ligands. Due to their permanent porosity, rich surface chemistry and tuneable pore sizes, MOFs have emerged as one type of important porous solid and have attracted intensive interests in catalysis, gas adsorption, separation and storage over the past two decades. When compared with pure MOFs, the combination of MOFs with functional species or matrix materials not only shows enhanced properties, but also broadens the applications of MOFs in new fields, such as bio-imaging, drug delivery and electrical catalysis, owing to the interactions of the functional species/matrix with the MOF structures. Although the synthesis, chemical modification and potential applications of MOFs have been reviewed previously, there is an increasing awareness on the synthesis and applications of their composites, which have rarely been reviewed. This review aims to fill this gap and discuss the fabrication, properties, and applications of MOF composites. The remaining challenges and future opportunities in this field, in terms of processing techniques, maximizing composite properties, and prospects for applications, have also been indicated.

Toward a robust porous coordination polymer: the inhibition of mutual movement between interpenetrating sub-networks by introduction of multiple C–H⋯π interactions

We demonstrate that a robust porous coordination polymer can be achieved by introduction of multiple C–H⋯π interactions between diamonded sub-networks.