High Gravimetric and Volumetric Ammonia Capacities in Robust Metal-Organic Frameworks Prepared via Double Postsynthetic Modification

"Turn-on" mode fluorescence detection of amines based on a cationic covalent organic framework linked with C-C single bond

Developing methods to detect amine pollutants at trace levels is urgently needed due to their high toxicity to both human health and environment. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as promising candidates for amine sensing due to their exceptional stability when exposed to corrosive amines. While several COF-based sensors have recently been developed for amine detection, to the best of our knowledge, fluorescent "turn-on" sensors have been limited to imine-linked COFs. However, the relatively low stability of imine linkages may compromise structural integrity in the presence of corrosive amines. Here, for the first time, we constructed a cationic C-C single bond linked COF (CSBL-COF-4) through the reaction between cationic porphyrin TMPyP and terephthaldicarboxaldehyde. The abundant cationic sites distributing throughout the networks not only improved the dispersity of CSBL-COF-4 in aqueous solution but also provided numerous acidic sites to enhance the affinity with alkaline amines via Lewis acid-base interaction. CSBL-COF-4 exhibited an efficient response to amine solutions or vapors and was further utilized to evaluate the freshness of meat samples, highlighting its potential for practical applications. Our result would thus open up a new avenue towards constructing a broader class of COF-based sensors for the fluorescence "turn-on" detection of amines.

Tailored Postsynthetic Nitration of a Hypercrosslinked Polymer for Single-Step Ethylene Purification from a Ternary C2 Gas Mixture

Purifying C2H4 from a ternary C2H2/C2H4/C2H6 mixture poses a substantial industrial challenge due to their close physical and chemical properties. In this study, we introduce an innovative design approach to regulate and optimize the nitration degree of a hypercrosslinked polymer to achieve targeted separation performance. We synthesized a porous organic polymer (HCP) using the solvent knitting method and carried out its postsynthetic nitration, resulting in HCP-NO2-1 and HCP-NO2-2 with different nitration degrees. Notably, the adsorption capacity shifted from C2H6 > C2H4 ≈ C2H2 for HCP to C2H2 > C2H6 > C2H4 for HCP-NO2-1 and to C2H2 > C2H4 ≈ C2H6 for HCP-NO2-2, demonstrating the controllable nature of the separation process via the polar nitro group insertion. Remarkably, HCP-NO2-1 exhibited a desirable, selective separation of C2H4 from the C2H6/C2H4/C2H2 mixture thanks to an exquisite combination of the acidic proton-polar nitro group and nonpolar C-H⋅⋅⋅π interactions. Separation capability was further corroborated by computational simulations and breakthrough tests. This work marks a significant advancement as the first successful postsynthetic functionalization strategy for C2H4 purification from a ternary gas mixture among porous organic polymers.

MOFs to Enhance Green NH3 Synthesis in Plasma Reactors: Hierarchical Computational Screening Enhanced by Iterative Machine Learning

Plasma reactors are promising to decarbonize the production of NH3, but their NH3 energy yields need to improve to facilitate their broad adoption. Two emerging strategies to reduce energy inefficiencies aim to protect the freshly formed NH3 from destruction by the plasma by leveraging NH3 adsorption properties of porous materials as either catalyst supports or as membranes. As metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising porous materials for adsorption-based applications, we performed large-scale computational screening of 13,460 MOFs to study their potential for the above-mentioned uses. To reduce computational cost by ∼10-fold, we developed a generalizable hierarchical MOF screening strategy that starts with the selection of a 200-MOF set based on NH3 adsorption Henry's constants, for which the relevant performance metrics are calculated via molecular simulation. This set is used to "initialize" a machine learning (ML) model that predicts the relevant metrics in the whole MOF database, in turn guiding the selection of additional promising MOFs to be evaluated via molecular simulation. The ML model is then iteratively refined leveraging the emerging molecular simulation data from the MOFs selected at each iteration from the ML predictions themselves. From evaluation of only ∼10% of the database, for each use (catalyst support or membrane), 20 extant MOFs were holistically assessed and proposed for experimental testing based on desirable adsorption properties as well as complementary properties (e.g., high thermal decomposition temperature, constituted by earth abundant metals, etc.). Data-driven material design guidelines also emerged from the screening. For instance, a pore diameter of ∼10 Å and a heat of adsorption of ∼90 kJ/mol were found beneficial for the catalyst support use. On the other hand, for the membrane-based strategy, a pore diameter of ∼2.75 Å and a heat of adsorption of ∼80 kJ/mol were found beneficial. The presence of V was found beneficial for both uses.

Catalytic Reactor-Utilized Ammonia Adsorption, Absorption, and Storage Materials: Mechanism, Nanostructure, and Ab Initio Design

As the world's technological development shifts toward a sustainable energy future by harnessing renewable energy sources, ammonia is gaining recognition as a complementary green vector to hydrogen. This energy-dense carbon-neutral fuel is capable of overcoming hydrogen's limitations in terms of storage, distribution, and infrastructure deployment. The biggest challenge to the global use of ammonia as an energy storage medium remains more efficient, readily deployable production of ammonia from abundant, yet intermittent, sources. Green decentralized ammonia production, which refers to the small-scale, localized ammonia production utilizing environmentally sustainable methods, offers a promising approach to overcoming the challenges of traditional ammonia synthesis. The process aims to minimize carbon emissions, increase energy efficiency, and improve accessibility to ammonia in remote regions. Ammonia separation using sorbent materials holds significant potential in green ammonia production, providing a viable alternative to conventional condensation-based separation methods, with particular benefits in improving energy efficiency. This perspective summarizes recent developments in the field of ammonia separation, focusing on newly developed sorbents for the integrated ammonia synthesis-separation process, particularly metal halides that could potentially replace a conventional ammonia condenser. The challenges and potential solutions are also discussed. Moreover, this perspective outlines the mechanism of ammonia absorption into metal halides with its kinetics and thermodynamics. The use of computational methods for the development of new materials is also described, thereby laying the foundations of green ammonia technology.

A Flexible Phosphonate Metal-Organic Framework for Enhanced Cooperative Ammonia Capture

Ammonia (NH3) production in 2023 reached 150 million tons and is associated with potential concomitant production of up to 500 million tons of CO2 each year. Efforts to produce green NH3 are compromised since it is difficult to separate using conventional condensation chillers, but in situ separation with minimal cooling is challenging. While metal-organic framework materials offer some potential, they are often unstable and decompose in the presence of caustic and corrosive NH3. Here, we address these challenges by developing a pore-expansion strategy utilizing the flexible phosphonate framework, STA-12(Ni), which shows exceptional stability and capture of NH3 at ppm levels at elevated temperatures (100-220 °C) even under humid conditions. A remarkable NH3 uptake of 4.76 mmol g-1 at 100 μbar (equivalent to 100 ppm) is observed, and in situ neutron powder diffraction, inelastic neutron scattering, and infrared microspectroscopy, coupled with modeling, reveal a pore expansion from triclinic to a rhombohedral structure on cooperative binding of NH3 to unsaturated Ni(II) sites and phosphonate groups. STA-12(Ni) can be readily engineered into pellets or monoliths without losing adsorption capacity, underscoring its practical potential.

Ammonia Storage in Metal-Organic Framework Materials: Recent Developments in Design and Characterization

Since the advent of the Haber-Bosch process in 1910, the global demand for ammonia (NH3) has surged, driven by its applications in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and energy. Current methods of NH3 storage, including high-pressure storage and transportation, present significant challenges due to their corrosive and toxic nature. Consequently, research has turned towards metal-organic framework (MOF) materials as potential candidates for NH3 storage due to their potential high adsorption capacities and structural tunability. MOFs are coordination networks composed of metal nodes and organic linkers, offering unprecedented porosity and surface area, and allowing incorporation of various functional groups and metal sites that can enhance NH3 adsorption. However, the stability of MOFs in the presence of NH3 is a significant concern since many degrade upon exposure to NH3, primarily due to ligand displacement and framework collapse. To address this, recent studies have focused on the synthesis and postsynthetic modification of MOFs to enhance both NH3 uptake and stability. In this Account, we summarize recent developments in the design and characterization of MOFs for NH3 storage. The choice of metal centers in MOFs is crucial for stability and performance. High-valence metals such as AlIII and TiIV form strong metal-linker bonds, enhancing the stability of the framework to NH3. The MFM-300 series of materials composed of high-valence 3+ and 4+ metal ions and carboxylic linkers demonstrates high stability and high NH3 uptake capacities. Ligand functionalization is another effective strategy for improving the NH3 adsorption. Polar functional groups such as -NH2, -OH, and -COOH enhance the interaction between the framework and NH3, particularly at low partial pressures, while postsynthetic modification allows fine-tuning of these functionalities to optimize the framework for higher adsorption capacities and stability. For example, MFM-303(Al), incorporating free carboxylic acid groups, exhibits a high NH3 packing density comparable to that of solid NH3. Creating defect sites by removing linkers or adding metal ions increases the number of active sites available for NH3 adsorption and shows promise for enhancing uptake. UiO-66, a stable MOF framework, can be modified to include defect sites, significantly enhancing the level of NH3 uptake. The full characterization of MOFs and especially their interactions with NH3 are vital for understanding and improving their performance. Techniques such as neutron powder diffraction (NPD), inelastic neutron scattering (INS), diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy can elucidate host-guest interactions and binding dynamics between NH3 and the framework structure and afford crucial information for the future design and rational development of new sorbents. This Account highlights our current strategies for the synthesis and characterization of MOFs for NH3 capture, providing an overview of this rapidly evolving field.

High ammonia adsorption in copper-carboxylate materials: host-guest interactions and crystalline-amorphous-crystalline phase transitions

We report the high NH3 uptake in a series of copper-carboxylate materials, namely MFM-100, MFM-101, MFM-102, MFM-126, MFM-127, MFM-190(F), MFM-170, and Cu-MOP-1a. At 273 K and 1 bar, MFM-101 shows an exceptional uptake of 21.9 mmol g-1. The presence of Cu(II)⋯NH3 interactions and changes in coordination at the [Cu2(O2CR)4] paddlewheel are analysed and discussed.

Diversity-driven, efficient exploration of a MOF design space to optimize MOF properties

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) promise to engender technology-enabling properties for numerous applications. However, one significant challenge in MOF development is their overwhelmingly large design space, which is intractable to fully explore even computationally. To find diverse optimal MOF designs without exploring the full design space, we develop Vendi Bayesian optimization (VBO), a new algorithm that combines traditional Bayesian optimization with the Vendi score, a recently introduced interpretable diversity measure. Both Bayesian optimization and the Vendi score require a kernel similarity function, we therefore also introduce a novel similarity function in the space of MOFs that accounts for both chemical and structural features. This new similarity metric enables VBO to find optimal MOFs with properties that may depend on both chemistry and structure. We statistically assessed VBO by its ability to optimize three NH3-adsorption dependent performance metrics that depend, to different degrees, on MOF chemistry and structure. With ten simulated campaigns done for each metric, VBO consistently outperformed random search to find high-performing designs within a 1000-MOF subset for (i) NH3 storage, (ii) NH3 removal from membrane plasma reactors, and (iii) NH3 capture from air. Then, with one campaign dedicated to finding optimal MOFs for NH3 storage in a "hybrid" ∼10 000-MOF database, we identify twelve extant and eight hypothesized MOF designs with potentially record-breaking working capacity ΔN NH3 between 300 K and 400 K at 1 bar. Specifically, the best MOF designs are predicted to (i) achieve ΔN NH3 values between 23.6 and 29.3 mmol g-1, potentially surpassing those that MOFs previously experimentally tested for NH3 adsorption would have at the proposed operation conditions, (ii) be thermally stable at the operation conditions and (iii) require only ca. 10% of the energy content in NH3 to release the stored molecule from the MOF. Finally, the analysis of the generated simulation data during the search indicates that a pore size of around 10 Å, a heat of adsorption around 33 kJ mol-1, and the presence of Ca could be part of MOF design rules that could help optimize NH3 working capacity at the proposed operation conditions.

Reversible Adsorption of Ammonia in the Crystalline Solid of a CO2H-Functionalized Cyclic Oligophenylene

Ammonia (NH3) is a viable candidate for the storage and distribution of hydrogen (H2) due to its exceptional volumetric and gravimetric hydrogen energy density. Therefore, it is desirable to develop NH3 storage materials that exhibit robust stability across numerous adsorption-desorption cycles. While porous materials with polymeric frameworks are often used for NH3 capture, achieving reversible NH3 uptake remains a formidable challenge, primarily due to the high reactivity of NH3. Here, we advocate the use of CO2H-functionalized cyclic oligophenylene 1a with high chemical stability as a novel single-molecule-based adsorbent for NH3. Simple reprecipitation of 1a selectively yielded microporous crystalline solid 1a (N). Crystalline 1a (N) adsorbs up to 8.27 mmol/g of NH3 at 100 kPa and 293 K. Adsorbed NH3 in the pore of 1a (N) has a packing density of 0.533 g/cm3 at 293 K, which is close to the density of liquid NH3 (0.681 g/cm3 at 240 K). Crystalline 1a (N) also exhibits reversible NH3 adsorption over at least nine cycles, sustaining its storage capacity (1st cycle: 8.27 mmol/g; 9th cycle: 8.25 mmol/g at 100 kPa and 293 K) and crystallinity. During each desorption cycle, NH3 was removed from 1a (N) under reduced pressure (∼65 Pa), leaving <3% of the total uptake, and 1a (N) was fully purged under dynamic vacuum conditions (∼5 × 10-4 Pa at 293 K for 1 h) before the subsequent adsorption cycles. Thus, microporous crystalline 1a (N) can reliably adsorb and desorb NH3 repeatedly, which avoids the need for heat-based activation between cycles.

High adsorption of ammonia in a titanium-based metal-organic framework

We report the high adsorption of NH3 in a titanium-based metal-organic framework, MFM-300(Ti), comprising extended [TiO6]∞ chains linked by biphenyl-3,3',5,5'-tetracarboxylate ligands. At 273 K and 1 bar, MFM-300(Ti) shows an exceptional NH3 uptake of 23.4 mmol g-1 with a record-high packing density of 0.84 g cm-3. Dynamic breakthrough experiments confirm the excellent uptake and separation of NH3 at low concentration (1000 ppm). The combination of in situ neutron powder diffraction and spectroscopic studies reveal strong, yet reversible binding interactions of NH3 to the framework oxygen sites.

High Hydrogen Storage in Trigonal Prismatic Monomer-Based Highly Porous Aromatic Frameworks

Hydrogen storage is crucial in the shift toward a carbon-neutral society, where hydrogen serves as a pivotal renewable energy source. Utilizing porous materials can provide an efficient hydrogen storage solution, reducing tank pressures to manageable levels and circumventing the energy-intensive and costly current technological infrastructure. Herein, two highly porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs), C-PAF and Si-PAF, prepared through a Yamamoto C─C coupling reaction between trigonal prismatic monomers, are reported. These PAFs exhibit large pore volumes and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller areas, 3.93 cm3 g-1 and 4857 m2 g-1 for C-PAF, and 3.80 cm3 g-1 and 6099 m2 g-1 for Si-PAF, respectively. Si-PAF exhibits a record-high gravimetric hydrogen delivery capacity of 17.01 wt% and a superior volumetric capacity of 46.5 g L-1 under pressure-temperature swing adsorption conditions (77 K, 100 bar → 160 K, 5 bar), outperforming benchmark hydrogen storage materials. By virtue of the robust C─C covalent bond, both PAFs show impressive structural stabilities in harsh environments and unprecedented long-term durability. Computational modeling methods are employed to simulate and investigate the structural and adsorption properties of the PAFs. These results demonstrate that C-PAF and Si-PAF are promising materials for efficient hydrogen storage.

Postsynthetically Modified Alkoxide-Exchanged Ni2(OR)2BTDD: Synergistic Interactions of CO2 with Open Metal Sites and Functional Groups

Postsynthetic modifications (PSMs) of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) play a crucial role in enhancing material performance through open metal site (OMS) functionalization or ligand exchange. However, a significant challenge persists in preserving open metal sites during ligand exchange, as these sites are inherently bound by incoming ligands. In this study, for the first time, we introduced alkoxides by exchanging bridging chloride in Ni2Cl2BTDD (BTDD=bis (1H-1,2,3,-triazolo [4,5-b],-[4',5'-i]) dibenzo[1,4]dioxin) through PSM. Rietveld refinement of synchrotron X-ray diffraction data indicated that the alkoxide oxygen atom bridges Ni(II) centers while the OMSs of the MOF are preserved. Due to the synergy of the existing OMS and introduced functional group, the alkoxide-exchanged MOFs showed CO2 uptakes superior to the pristine MOF. Remarkably, the tert-butoxide-substituted Ni_T exhibited a nearly threefold and twofold increase in CO2 uptake compared to Ni2Cl2BTDD at 0.15 and 1 bar, respectively, as well as high water stability relative to the other exchanged frameworks. Furthermore, the Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations for Ni_T suggested that CO2 interacts with the OMS and the surrounding methyl groups of tert-butoxide groups, which is responsible for the enhanced CO2 capacity. This work provides a facile and unique synthetic strategy for realizing a desirable OMS-incorporating MOF platform through bridging ligand exchange.

Click Chemistry in Lithium-Metal Batteries

Lithium-metal batteries (LMBs) are considered the "holy grail" of the next-generation energy storage systems, and solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) are a kind of critical component assembled in LMBs. However, as one of the most important branches of SSEs, polymer-based electrolytes (PEs) possess several native drawbacks including insufficient ionic conductivity and so on. Click chemistry is a simple, efficient, regioselective, and stereoselective synthesis method, which can be used not only for preparing PEs with outstanding physical and chemical performances, but also for optimizing the stability of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer and elevate the cycling properties of LMBs effectively. Here it is primarily focused on evaluating the merits of click chemistry, summarizing its existing challenges and outlining its increasing role for the designing and fabrication of advanced PEs. The fundamental requirements for reconstructing artificial SEI layer through click chemistry are also summarized, with the aim to offer a thorough comprehension and provide a strategic guidance for exploring the potentials of click chemistry in the field of LMBs.

Porous acid-base hybrid polymers for enhanced NH3 uptake with assistance from cooperative hydrogen bonds

Carboxylic acid-modified materials are a common means of achieving efficient NH3 adsorption. In this study, we report that improved NH3 adsorption capacity and easier desorption can be achieved through the introduction of substances containing Lewis basic groups into carboxylic acid-modified materials. Easily synthesized mesoporous acid-base hybrid polymers were constructed with polymers rich in carboxylic acid and Lewis base moieties through cooperative hydrogen bonding interactions (CHBs). The hybrid polymer PAA-P4VP presented higher NH3 capacity (18.2 mmol g-1 at 298 K and 1 bar NH3 pressure) than PAA (6.0 mmol g-1) through the acid-base reaction and the assistance from CHBs with NH3, while the NH3 desorption from PAA-P4VP was easier for the reformation of CHBs. Based on the introduction of CHBs, a series of mesoporous acid-base hybrid polymers was synthesized with NH3 adsorption capacity of 15.8-19.3 mmol g-1 and high selectivity of NH3 over CO2 (SNH3/CO2 = 25.4-56.3) and N2 (SNH3/N2 = 254-1068), and the possible co-existing gases, such as SO2, had a lower effect on NH3 uptake by hybrid polymers. Overall, the hybrid polymers present efficient NH3 adsorption owing to the abundant acidic moieties and CHBs, while the concomitant Lewis bases promote NH3 desorption.

Efficient capture and storage of ammonia in robust aluminium-based metal-organic frameworks

The development of stable sorbent materials to deliver reversible adsorption of ammonia (NH₃) is a challenging task. Here, we report the efficient capture and storage of NH₃ in a series of robust microporous aluminium-based metal-organic framework materials, namely MIL-160, CAU-10-H, Al-fum, and MIL-53(Al). In particular, MIL-160 shows high uptakes of NH₃ of 4.8 and 12.8 mmol g^-1 at both low and high pressure (0.001 and 1.0 bar, respectively) at 298 K. The combination of in situ neutron powder diffraction, synchrotron infrared micro-spectroscopy and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy reveals the preferred adsorption domains of NH₃ molecules in MIL-160, with H/D site-exchange between the host and guest and an unusual distortion of the local structure of [AlO₆] moieties being observed. Dynamic breakthrough experiments confirm the excellent ability of MIL-160 to capture of NH₃ with a dynamic uptake of 4.2 mmol g^-1 at 1000 ppm. The combination of high porosity, pore aperture size and multiple binding sites promotes the significant binding affinity and capacity for NH₃, which makes it a promising candidate for practical applications.

Ammonia Capture in Rhodium(II)-Based Metal-Organic Polyhedra via Synergistic Coordinative and H-Bonding Interactions

Ammonia (NH₃) is among the world's most widely produced bulk chemicals, given its extensive use in diverse sectors such as agriculture; however, it poses environmental and health risks at low concentrations. Therefore, there is a need for developing new technologies and materials to capture and store ammonia safely. Herein, we report for the first time the use of metal-organic polyhedra (MOPs) as ammonia adsorbents. We evaluated three different rhodium-based MOPs: [Rh₂(bdc)₂]₁₂ (where bdc is 1,3-benzene dicarboxylate); one functionalized with hydroxyl groups at its outer surface [Rh₂(OH-bdc)₂]₁₂ (where OH-bdc is 5-hydroxy-1,3-benzene dicarboxylate); and one decorated with aliphatic alkoxide chains at its outer surface [Rh₂(C₁₂O-bdc)₂]₁₂ (where C₁₂O-bdc is 5-dodecoxybenzene-1,3-benzene dicarboxylate). Ammonia-adsorption experiments revealed that all three Rh-MOPs strongly interact with ammonia, with uptake capacities exceeding 10 mmol/g_MOP. Furthermore, computational and experimental data showed that the mechanism of the interaction between Rh-MOPs and ammonia proceeds through a first step of coordination of NH₃ to the axial site of the Rh(II) paddlewheel cluster, which triggers the adsorption of additional NH₃ molecules through H-bonding interaction. This unique mechanism creates H-bonded clusters of NH₃ on each Rh(II) axial site, which accounts for the high NH₃ uptake capacity of Rh-MOPs. Rh-MOPs can be regenerated through their immersion in acidic water, and upon activation, their ammonia uptake can be recovered for at least three cycles. Our findings demonstrate that MOPs can be used as porous hosts to capture corrosive molecules like ammonia, and that their surface functionalization can enhance the ammonia uptake performance.