Creating a MOF with larger pores and higher stability for gas separation through continuous structure transformation

Abstract

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely studied as new materials, and many structural regulation strategies have been reported. We report a new defective-MOF design strategy that involves a continuous process of pore space partition, metal center exchange, and ligand removal. In the whole process, the single crystal of MOF is well maintained, which not only points out a rare and clear route for the structure transformation process but also provides an indirect synthesis method for defective materials, which cannot accurately control the vacancy position. It was interesting to find that the removal of the selected ligand endows the MOF with larger pores, higher stability and excellent performance in the selective adsorption and separation of C₂H₄/C₃H₆ mixtures and natural gas mixtures.