Anisotropic Xe Chemical Shifts in Zeolites. The Role of Intra- and Intercrystallite Diffusion

Metal-organic Framework Materials Coupled to Optical Fibers for Chemical Sensing: A Review

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a newer class of crystalline nanoporous materials, have been in the limelight owing to their exceptional tunability for structures and physicochemical properties, and have found successful applications in gas storage, gas separation, and catalysis. The mesmerizing properties of MOFs, especially the extensive and tunable porosity and chemical selectivity, also make them an excellent candidate class as chemo-sensory materials. Moreover, MOF-based sensors have attracted considerable attention in the past decade. Recent literature reviews focused on the progress of MOF-based electronic sensors and luminescent MOF sensors, while sensors exploiting the dielectric properties (refractive index) of MOFs were also demonstrated and discussed very recently. The motivation of this report is to provide, for the first time, a general review on such MOF sensors with a particular focus on miniature optical fiber (OF) based MOF sensors and to demonstrate the promising potential of MOFs as dielectric coatings on OF for highly sensitive chemical sensing. The fundamental principle of OF-MOF sensors relies on the tunability of the refractive index of a MOF, which is dependent on the amount and type of adsorbed guest molecules in the MOF pores. MOF sensors based on different optical sensing principles are reviewed; challenges and perspectives on further research into the field of OF-MOF sensors are also discussed.

Molecular Sensing with Host Systems for Hyperpolarized 129Xe

Hyperpolarized noble gases have been used early on in applications for sensitivity enhanced NMR. 129Xe has been explored for various applications because it can be used beyond the gas-driven examination of void spaces. Its solubility in aqueous solutions and its affinity for hydrophobic binding pockets allows "functionalization" through combination with host structures that bind one or multiple gas atoms. Moreover, the transient nature of gas binding in such hosts allows the combination with another signal enhancement technique, namely chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST). Different systems have been investigated for implementing various types of so-called Xe biosensors where the gas binds to a targeted host to address molecular markers or to sense biophysical parameters. This review summarizes developments in biosensor design and synthesis for achieving molecular sensing with NMR at unprecedented sensitivity. Aspects regarding Xe exchange kinetics and chemical engineering of various classes of hosts for an efficient build-up of the CEST effect will also be discussed as well as the cavity design of host molecules to identify a pool of bound Xe. The concept is presented in the broader context of reporter design with insights from other modalities that are helpful for advancing the field of Xe biosensors.

Impact of Defects and Crystal Size on Negative Gas Adsorption in DUT-49 Analyzed by In Situ 129Xe NMR Spectroscopy

The origin of crystal-size-dependent adsorption behavior of flexible metal-organic frameworks is increasingly studied. In this contribution, we probe the solid-fluid interactions of DUT-49 crystals of different size by in situ 129Xe NMR spectroscopy at 200 K. With decreasing size of the crystals, the average solid-fluid interactions are found to decrease reflected by a decrease in chemical shift of adsorbed xenon from 230 to 200 ppm, explaining the lack of adsorption-induced transitions for smaller crystals. However, recent studies propose that these results can also originate from the presence of lattice defects. To investigate the influence of defects on the adsorption behavior of DUT-49, we synthesized a series of samples with tailored defect concentrations and characterized them by in situ 129Xe NMR. In comparison to the results obtained for crystals with different size, we find pronounced changes of the adsorption behavior and influence of the chemical shift only for very high concentrations of defects, which further emphasizes the important role of particle size phenomena.

High-Pressure in Situ 129Xe NMR Spectroscopy: Insights into Switching Mechanisms of Flexible Metal-Organic Frameworks Isoreticular to DUT-49

Flexible metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are capable of changing their crystal structure as a function of external stimuli such as pressure, temperature, and type of adsorbed guest species. DUT-49 is the first MOF exhibiting structural transitions accompanied by the counterintuitive phenomenon of negative gas adsorption. Here, we present high-pressure in situ ¹²⁹Xe NMR spectroscopic studies of a novel isoreticular MOF family based on DUT-49. These porous materials differ only in the length of their organic linkers causing changes in pore size and elasticity. The series encompasses both, purely microporous materials as well as materials with both micropores and small mesopores. The chemical shift of the adsorbed xenon depends on xenon-wall interactions and thus on the pore size of the material. The xenon adsorption behavior of different MOFs can be observed over the whole range of relative pressure. Chemical shift adsorption/desorption isotherms closely resembling the conventional, uptake-measurement-based isotherms were obtained at 237 K where all materials are rigid. The comparable chemical environment of the adsorbed xenon in these isoreticular MOFs allows to establish a correlation between the chemical shift at a relative pressure of p/p ₀ = 1.0 and the mean pore diameter. Furthermore, the xenon adsorption behavior of MOFs is studied also at 200 K. Here, structural flexibility is found for DUT-50, a material with an even longer linker than that of the previously known DUT-49. Its structural transitions are monitored by ¹²⁹Xe NMR spectroscopy. This compound is the second known MOF showing the phenomenon of negative gas adsorption. Further increase in the linker length results in DUT-151, a material with an interpenetrated network topology. In situ ¹²⁹Xe NMR spectroscopy proves that this material exhibits another type of flexibility compared to DUT-49 and DUT-50. Further surprising observations are made for DUT-46. Volumetric xenon adsorption measurements show that this nonflexible microporous material does not exhibit any hysteresis. In contrast, the in situ ¹²⁹Xe NMR spectroscopically detected xenon chemical shift isotherms exhibit a hysteresis even after longer equilibration times than in the volumetric experiments. This indicates kinetically hindered redistribution processes and long-lived metastable states of adsorbed xenon within the MOF persisting at the time scale of hours or longer.

Mapping the dynamics of methanol and xenon co-adsorption in SWNTs by in situ continuous-flow hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR

A comparative study of the dynamics of methanol in SWNTs and MCM-41 was performed by in situ continuous-flow laser-hyperpolarized ¹²⁹Xe NMR.

Diffusion processes in a poly-crystalline zeolitic material: A molecular dynamics study

Extensive molecular dynamics simulations of xenon in two classes of zeolite crystal systems, one consisting of purely intra-crystalline space and the other with both intra- and inter-crystalline space are reported. The latter mimics a typical poly-crystalline sample of zeolite. Comparison of results from these two systems provides insights into the structure and dynamics in the presence of inter-crystalline space. The temperature, as well as the distance between the crystallites, has been varied. The density distribution and diffusivities calculated inside the poly-crystalline system show that the interfacial region between the crystal and the inter-crystalline region acts as a bottleneck for diffusion through the system. At lower temperatures, the particles are trapped at the interface due to the pronounced energy minima present in that region. With the increase in temperature, the particles are able to overcome this barrier frequently, and the transport across the inter-crystalline region is increased. A ballistic or superdiffusive motion is seen in the inter-crystalline region along all the axes except along the axis which has the inter-crystalline space. The transition time for ballistic to diffusive motion increases with the increase in the length of the inter-crystalline space. Velocity auto- and cross correlation functions exhibit strong oscillations and exchange of kinetic energy along directions perpendicular to the direction of the inter-crystalline space. These results explain why uptake and PFG-NMR measurements exhibit lower values for diffusivity for the same system when compared to Quasi-Elastic Neutron Scattering. Thus, using molecular dynamics simulations, we were able to correlate the difference of diffusivity values measured using various experimental methods where these inter-crystalline regions are common.

3D Study of the Morphology and Dynamics of Zeolite Nucleation

The principle aspects and constraints of the dynamics and kinetics of zeolite nucleation in hydrogel systems are analyzed on the basis of a model Na-rich aluminosilicate system. A detailed time-series EMT-type zeolite crystallization study in the model hydrogel system was performed to elucidate the topological and temporal aspects of zeolite nucleation. A comprehensive set of analytical tools and methods was employed to analyze the gel evolution and complement the primary methods of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. TEM tomography reveals that the initial gel particles exhibit a core-shell structure. Zeolite nucleation is topologically limited to this shell structure and the kinetics of nucleation is controlled by the shell integrity. The induction period extends to the moment when the shell is consumed and the bulk solution can react with the core of the gel particles. These new findings, in particular the importance of the gel particle shell in zeolite nucleation, can be used to control the growth process and properties of zeolites formed in hydrogels.

Chemical selectivity in structure determination by the time dependent analysis of in situ XRPD data: a clear view of Xe thermal behavior inside a MFI zeolite

PSD/PCA analysis of MED data allowed to enhance the chemical selectivity in X-ray powder diffraction and to obtain Xe substructure into MFI zeolite.

Studying porous materials with krypton-83 NMR spectroscopy

This report is the first review of (83)Kr nuclear magnetic resonance as a new and promising technique for exploring the surfaces of solid materials. In contrast to the spin I = 1/2 nucleus of (129)Xe, (83)Kr has a nuclear spin of I = 9/2 and therefore possesses a nuclear electric quadrupole moment. Interactions of the quadrupole moment with the electronic environment are modulated by surface adsorption processes and therefore affect the (83)Kr relaxation rate and spectral lineshape. These effects are much more sensitive probes for surfaces than the (129)Xe chemical shielding and provide unique insights into macroporous materials in which the (129)Xe chemical shift is typically of little diagnostic value. The first part of this report reviews the effect of quadrupolar interactions on the (83)Kr linewidth in zeolites and also the (83)Kr chemical shift behavior that is distinct from that of its (129)Xe cousin in some of these materials. The second part reviews hyperpolarized (hp) (83)Kr NMR spectroscopy of macroporous materials in which the longitudinal relaxation is typically too slow to allow sufficient averaging of thermally polarized (83)Kr NMR signals. The quadrupolar-driven T(1) relaxation times of hp (83)Kr in these materials are sensitive to surface chemistry, surface-to-volume ratios, coadsorption of other species on surfaces, and surface temperature. Thus, (83)Kr T(1) relaxation can provide information about surfaces and chemical processes in macroscopic pores and can generate surface-sensitive contrast in hp (83)Kr MRI.

Quadrupolar relaxation of hyperpolarized krypton-83 as a probe for surfaces

This work reports the first systematic study of relaxation experienced by the hyperpolarized (hp) noble gas isotope (83)Kr (I=9/2) in contact with surfaces. The spin-lattice relaxation of (83)Kr is found to depend strongly on the chemical composition of the surfaces in the vicinity of the gas. This effect is caused by quadrupolar interactions during brief periods of surface adsorption that are the dominating source of longitudinal spin relaxation in the (83)Kr atoms. Simple model systems of closest packed glass beads with uniform but variable bead sizes are used for the relaxation measurements. The observed relaxation rates depend strongly on the chemical treatment of the glass surfaces and on the surface to volume ratio. Hp (83)Kr NMR relaxation measurements of porous polymers with pore sizes of 70-250 microm demonstrate the potential use of this new technique for material sciences applications.

Detection of radiation effects in polymer gel dosimeters using129Xe NMR

Polymer gel dosimeters consist of monomers, with or without cross-linking agents, dispersed in a gel. Upon exposure to ionizing radiation, polymerization proceeds within the gel matrix, thereby changing several measurable physical properties that can then be related quantitatively to absorbed dose. Several previous studies have examined how various nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) properties, such as the relaxation rates of water protons, change with dose, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used successfully to measure three-dimensional dose distributions in irradiated polymer gels. Here we report our first observations of the manner in which the chemical shift of xenon gas (129Xe) dissolved in a gel changes with absorbed dose, and we introduce the potential use of high resolution xenon NMR spectra for understanding better the dose response of gels. 129Xe possesses a large chemical shift range and xenon spectra are sensitive to subtle changes in the physical and chemical environments in which the gas is dissolved. For doses ranging from 0 Gy to 40 Gy we found that the mean chemical shift of 129Xe was linearly related to dose, and that the gel dosimeter could be described in terms of a two-component model undergoing fast exchange. We found no evidence of radiation damage to the gelatin matrix at doses between 0 Gy and 40 Gy. At 40 Gy, the fast-exchange model begins to break down, and distinct gelatin and poly(methacrylate) resonances are observed at higher doses. High resolution NMR measurements of xenon provide a novel method for probing radiation dose effects in irradiated polymer gels.

Introducing Krypton NMR Spectroscopy as a Probe of Void Space in Solids

A wealth of information about porous materials and their void spaces has been obtained from the chemical shift data in (129)Xe NMR spectroscopy during the past decades. In this contribution, the only NMR active, stable krypton isotope (83)Kr (spin I = (9)/(2)) is explored as a novel probe for porous materials. It is demonstrated that (83)Kr NMR spectroscopy of nanoporous or microporous materials is feasible and straightforward despite the low gyromagnetic ratio and low abundance of the (83)Kr isotope. The (83)Kr line width in most of the studied cases is quadrupolar dominated and field-strength independent. A significant exception was found in calcium-exchanged zeolites where the field dependence of the line width indicates a distribution of isotropic chemical shifts that may be caused by long-range disorder in the zeolite structure. The (83)Kr chemical shifts observed in the investigated materials display a somewhat different behavior than that of their (129)Xe counterparts and should provide a great resource for the verification or refinement of current (129)Xe chemical shift theory. In contrast to xenon, krypton with its smaller atomic radius has been demonstrated to easily penetrate the porous framework of NaA. Chemical shifts and line widths of (83)Kr are moderately dependent on small fluctuations in the krypton loading but differ strongly between some of the studied samples.

Xe Chemical Shift Tensor in Silicalite and SSZ-24

We report, for the first time, a theoretical prediction of the (129)Xe nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift tensor of xenon atom in a single crystal of silicalite at near-zero occupancy and the temperature dependence of the Xe NMR chemical shift tensor for the polycrystalline silicalite at maximum occupancy. The former is a measure of the sensitivity of the Xe tensor components to the local structure of the channels without Xe-Xe contributions. The latter is a measure of the sensitivity of the Xe-Xe tensor components to the Xe-Xe distributions, as determined by the Xe-Xe potential function in competition with the Xe-silicalite potential function. Both theoretical predictions can be compared against Xe NMR experiments: the first against the Xe spectra collected as a function of rotation of the single crystal about the three crystalline axes in a magnetic field, and the second against variable temperature Xe NMR studies (below room temperature) of polycrystalline silicalite at maximum Xe occupancy. With the same parameter set (Xe-O potential and shielding functions), we predict the line shapes of Xe in SSZ-24 zeolite under various conditions of occupancy and temperature.

The chemical shifts of Xe in the cages of clathrate hydrate Structures I and II

We report, for the first time, a calculation of the isotropic NMR chemical shift of 129Xe in the cages of clathrate hydrates Structures I and II. We generate a shielding surface for Xe in the clathrate cages by quantum mechanical calculations. Subsequently this shielding surface is employed in canonical Monte Carlo simulations to find the average isotropic Xe shielding values in the various cages. For the two types of cages in clathrate hydrate Structure I, we find the intermolecular shielding values [sigma(Xe@5(12) cage)-sigma(Xe atom)]=-214.0 ppm, and [sigma(Xe@5(12)6(2) cage)-sigma(Xe atom)]=-146.9 ppm, in reasonable agreement with the values -242 and -152 ppm, respectively, observed experimentally by Ripmeester and co-workers between 263 and 293 K. For the 5(12) and 5(12)6(4) cages of Structure II we find [sigma(Xe@5(12) cage)-sigma(Xe atom)]=-206.7 ppm, and [sigma(Xe@5(12)6(4) cage)-sigma(Xe atom)]=-104.7 ppm, also in reasonable agreement with the values -225 and -80 ppm, respectively, measured in a Xe-propane type II mixed clathrate hydrate at 77 and 220-240 K by Ripmeester et al.

In Situ NMR Spectroscopy of Combustion

The first successful in situ studies of free combustion processes by one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy are reported, and the feasibility of this concept is demonstrated. In this proof-of-principle work, methane combustion over a nanoporous material is investigated using hyperpolarized (hp)-xenon-129 NMR spectroscopy. Different inhomogeneous regions within the combustion cell are identified by the xenon chemical shift, and the gas exchange between these regions during combustion is revealed by two-dimensional exchange spectra (EXSY). The development of NMR spectroscopy as an analytical tool for combustion processes is of potential importance for catalyzed reactions within opaque media that are difficult to investigate by other techniques.

The role of polarization of Xe by di- and monovalent cations in 129Xe NMR studies in zeolite A

We consider the role of polarization in the adsorption of Xe in zeolites of type A by direct comparative analysis of the adsorption isotherms, distributions of occupancies, and 129Xe NMR chemical shifts of Xe(n) in cages containing CaxNa12-2x ions per alpha cage (x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 5). We find that the qualitative trends in the adsorption isotherms, and in the progressions of Xe(n) chemical shifts (for n = 0-8 in cages with x = 0, 1 Ca2+ ions and for n = 0-5 in cages with x = 2, 3 Ca2+ ions) upon increasing the level of Ca2+ ion for Na+ ion substitution could only be accounted for by including polarization of the Xe atom by the zeolite framework and its ions. This system, which permits observation of individual Xe(n) peaks and of directly comparable adsorption isotherms in several cage types, provides a good model system for the interpretation of the more general case in which only the overall average 129Xe NMR chemical shift is observed in open network zeolites, arising from free exchange of Xe among cavities of variable occupancy and variable cation distribution.