Affiliations 

  • 1 Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, 3122 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843-3122, USA
  • 2 Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, 43400, Malaysia
  • 3 National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Molecular Thermodynamics and Modelling of Materials Laboratory, 15310, Aghia Paraskevi Attikis, Greece
  • 4 Science Program, Texas A&M University at Qatar, P.O. Box 23874, Education City, Doha, Qatar
  • 5 Chemical Engineering Program, Texas A&M University at Qatar, P.O. Box 23874, Education City, Doha, Qatar
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 2021 Apr 26;60(18):10103-10111.
PMID: 33620755 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202015635

Abstract

We present a novel synthesis strategy termed delayed linker addition (DLA) to synthesize hybrid zeolitic-imidazolate frameworks containing unsubstituted imidazolate linkers (Im) with SOD topology (hereafter termed Im/ZIF-8). Im linker incorporation can create larger voids and apertures, which are important properties for gas storage and separation. To date, there have been only a handful of reports of Im linkers incorporated into ZIF-8 frameworks, typically requiring arduous and complicated post synthesis approaches. DLA, as reported here, is a simple one-step synthesis strategy allowing high incorporation of Im linker into the ZIF-8 framework while still retaining its SOD topology. We fabricated mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) with 6FDA-DAM polymer and Im/ZIF-8 obtained via DLA as a filler. The Im/ZIF-8-containing MMMs showed excellent performance for both propylene/propane and n-butane/i-butane separation, displaying permeability and ideal selectivity well above the polymer upper bound. Moreover, highly detailed molecular simulations shed light to the aperture size and flexibility response of Im/ZIF-8 and its improved diffusivity as compared to ZIF-8.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.