Engineering Metal–Organic Frameworks for Selective Separation of Hexane Isomers Using 3-Dimensional Linkers

• DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c13715
• Publication Date: 2023-03-10T19:27:23Z
• Authors: Courtney S. Smoljan; Zhao Li; Haomiao Xie; Caitlin J. Setter; Karam B. Idrees; Florencia A. Son; Filip Formalik; Saman Shafaie; Timur Islamoglu; Lauren K. Macreadie; Randall Q. Snurr; Omar K. Farha
• Keywords: Hexane; Separation (statistics); Separation method

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are highly tunable materials with potential for use as porous media in non-thermal adsorption or membrane-based separations. However, many separations target molecules sub-angstrom differences size, requiring precise control over the pore size. Herein, we demonstrate that this can be achieved by installing a three-dimensional linker an MOF one-dimensional channels. Specifically, synthesized single crystals and bulk powder of NU-2002, isostructural framework to MIL-53 bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid organic component. Using variable-temperature X-ray diffraction studies, show increasing dimensionality limits structural breathing relative MIL-53. Furthermore, single-component isotherms efficacy material separating hexane isomers based on different sizes shapes these isomers.