Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks for membrane separation

Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) are a new class of crystalline porous materials that are formed through the interconnection of organic or metal-organic building units via intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The remarkable flexibility and reversibility of hydrogen bonds, coupled with the customizable nature of organic units, endow HOFs with mild synthesis conditions, high crystallinity, solvent processability, and facile self-healing and regeneration properties. Consequently, these features have garnered significant attention across various fields, particularly in the realm of membrane separation. Herein, we present an overview of the recent advances in HOF-based membranes, including their advanced fabrication strategies and fascinating applications in membrane separation. To attain the desired HOF-based membranes, careful consideration is dedicated to crucial factors such as pore size, stability, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, and surface charge of the HOFs. Additionally, diverse preparation methods for HOF-based membranes, including blending, in situ growth, solution-processing, and electrophoretic deposition, have been analyzed. Furthermore, applications of HOF-based membranes in gas separation, water treatment, fuel cells, and other emerging application areas are presented. Finally, the challenges and prospects of HOF-based membranes are critically pointed out.

Coordination polymers of CdII and PbII derived from bipyridine-glycoluril: influence of metal-ion size and counter-ions

Two new one-dimensional (1D) coordination polymers (CPs), namely catena-poly[[[aquacadmium(II)]-bis(μ-4b,5,7,7a-tetrahydro-4b,7a-epiminomethanoimino-6H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline-6,13-dione)] bis(perchlorate) dihydrate], {[Cd(C₁₄H₁₀N₆O₂)₂(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂·2H₂O}_n or {[Cd(BPG)₂(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂·2H₂O}_n, 1, and catena-poly[[lead(II)-bis(μ-4b,5,7,7a-tetrahydro-4b,7a-epiminomethanoimino-6H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline-6,13-dione)] bis(perchlorate) dihydrate], {[Pb(C₁₄H₁₀N₆O₂)₂](ClO₄)₂·2H₂O}_n or {[Pb(BPG)₂](ClO₄)₂·2H₂O}_n, 2, have been synthesized using bipyridine-glycoluril (BPG; systematic name: 4b,5,7,7a-tetrahydro-4b,7a-epiminomethanoimino-6H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline-6,13-dione), a urea-fused tecton, in a mixed-solvent system. The Cd^II ion in 1 is heptacoordinated and the Pb^II ion in 2 is hexacoordinated, with the Cd^II ion adopting a pentagonal bipyramidal geometry and the Pb^II ion adopting a distorted octahedral geometry. Both CPs form infinite linear chain structures which are hydrogen bonded to each other leading to the formation of three-dimensional supramolecular network structures. Topological analysis of CPs 1 and 2 reveals that the structures exhibit 1D chain-like arrangements in an AB-AB sequence and shows platonic uniform 2-connected uninodal topologies. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of a series of structures based on the BPG ligand indicates that the size of the metal ion and the types of counter-ions used have a great influence on the resulting frameworks and properties.

A copper(ii)-coordination polymer based on a sulfonic–carboxylic ligand exhibits high water-facilitated proton conductivity

The coordination polymer {[Cu₂(sba)₂(bpg)₂(H₂O)₃]·5H₂O}_n encapsulates arrays of water molecules H-bonded to the framework displaying a high conductivity value of 0.94 × 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ with an activation energy of 0.64 eV.

Streams, cascades, and pools: various water cluster motifs in structurally similar Ni(ii) complexes

Hydrogen bonding (HB) interactions are well known to impact the properties of water in the bulk and within hydrated materials.

Synthesis of an ultra-stable metal–organic framework for proton conduction

An ultra-stable metal organic framework material has been successfully synthesized for proton conduction.