Strong size sieving effect in a rigid oxalate-based metal–organic framework for selective lithium extraction

Abstract

An oxalate-based metal–organic framework Eu-C₂O₄ was synthesized at gram-scale and studied as a selective adsorbent for Li⁺ ions, and it exhibited high Li⁺/Na⁺ selectivity in aqueous solution. A detailed mechanism study revealed that the key was the well-matched chelating sites of the framework for Li⁺ ion extraction.