A rapid microwave-assisted synthesis of a sodium–cadmium metal–organic framework having improved performance as a CO2 adsorbent for CCS

Abstract

We report on a facile and rapid microwave-assisted method for preparing a sodium–cadmium metal–organic framework (having coordinatively unsaturated sodium ions) that considerably shortens the conventional synthesis time from 5 days to 1 hour. The obtained (Na,Cd)-MOF showed an excellent volumetric CO₂ adsorption capacity (5.2 mmol cm⁻³ at 298 K and 1 bar) and better CO₂ adsorption properties than those shown by the same metal–organic framework when synthesized following a more conventional procedure. Moreover, the newly prepared material was found to display high selectivity for adsorption of carbon dioxide over nitrogen, and good regenerability and stability during repeated CO₂ adsorption–desorption cycles, which are the required properties for any adsorbent intended for carbon dioxide capture and sequestration (CSS) from the post-combustion flue gas of fossil fuelled power stations.