A pyridyl-decorated Zr-organic framework for enhanced gas separation and CO2 transformation

Abstract

A Zr-based MOF with UiO-66 topology, which was defined as Py-UiO-66, has been synthesized by modifying the ligand of p-phthalic acid with a pyridine group. Py-UiO-66 possesses excellent chemical stability in aqueous solutions of pH = 0–13, especially when the pore structure is functionalized by hanging bare Lewis basic pyridine groups. Results of gas adsorption experiment show that Py-UiO-66 has the ability to selectively absorb C₂H₂ and CO₂ rather than CH₄. More importantly, Py-UiO-66 has an efficient catalytic effect in CO₂ cycloaddition.