A novel metal-organic framework for high storage and separation of acetylene at room temperature

•A novel 3D NbO-type microporous metal-organic framework ZJU-10 was solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized.•ZJU-10a exhibits high BET surface area of 2392 m2/g.•ZJU-10a shows a moderately high C2H2 gravimetric (volumetric) uptake capacity of 174 (132) cm3/g at 298 K and 1 bar.•ZJU-10a can separate acetylene from methane and carbon dioxide gas mixtures at room temperature.

A novel 3D microporous metal-organic framework with NbO topology, [Cu2(L)(H2O)2]∙(DMF)6·(H2O)2 (ZJU-10, ZJU = Zhejiang University; H4L =2′-hydroxy-[1,1′:4′,1″-terphenyl]-3,3″,5,5″-tetracarboxylic acid; DMF =N,N-dimethylformamide), has been synthesized and structurally characterized. With suitable pore sizes and open Cu2+ sites, ZJU-10a exhibits high BET surface area of 2392 m2/g, as well as moderately high C2H2 volumetric uptake capacity of 132 cm3/cm3. Meanwhile, ZJU-10a is a promising porous material for separation of acetylene from methane and carbon dioxide gas mixtures at room temperature.

Graphical abstractA new NbO-type microporous metal-organic framework ZJU-10 with suitable pore size and open Cu2+ sites was synthesized to realize the strong interaction with acetylene molecules, which can separate the acetylene from methane and carbon dioxane gas mixtures at room temperature.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide