A new microporous metal–organic framework with open metal sites and exposed carboxylic acid groups for selective separation of CO2/CH4 and C2H2/CH4

Abstract

A new microporous metal–organic framework Cu₆(DDCBA)₃ (ZJU-72, H₅DDCBA = 3,5-di(3′,5′-dicarboxylpheny)-benozoic acid) with open metal sites and exposed carboxylate groups is rationally designed and synthesized, exhibiting a low binding energy of 9.7 kJ mol⁻¹ for C₂H₂ and 15.1 kJ mol⁻¹ for CO₂ and a high separation selectivity of 39.7 for C₂H₂/CH₄ at 298 K and 8.2 for CO₂/CH₄ at 273 K.