A Microporous Metal-Organic Framework with Unique Aromatic Pore Surfaces for High Performance C2H6/C2H4 Separation

Developing adsorptive separation processes based on C₂H₆-selective sorbents to replace energy-intensive cryogenic distillation is a promising alternative for C₂H₄ purification from C₂H₄/C₂H₆ mixtures, which however remains challenging. During our studies on two isostructural metal–organic frameworks ( Ni-MOF 1 and Ni-MOF 2 ), we found that Ni-MOF 2 exhibited significantly higher performance for C₂H₆/C₂H₄ separation than Ni-MOF-1 , as clearly established by gas sorption isotherms and breakthrough experiments. Density-Functional Theory (DFT) studies showed that the unblocked unique aromatic pore surfaces within Ni-MOF 2 induce more and stronger C−H⋅⋅⋅π with C₂H₆ over C₂H₄ while the suitable pore spaces enforce its high C₂H₆ uptake capacity, featuring Ni-MOF 2 as one of the best porous materials for this very important gas separation. It generates 12 L kg⁻¹ of polymer-grade C₂H₄ product from equimolar C₂H₆/C₂H₄ mixtures at ambient conditions.     

Sieving Effect for the Separation of C2H2/C2H4 in an Ultrastable Ultramicroporous Zinc-Organic Framework

The separation of C₂H₂ from C₂H₄ is one of the most challenging tasks due to the similarity of their physical properties. In addition, green synthetic protocol and adsorbent's stability are also the major concerns during the separation. Herein, under hydrothermal green synthesis conditions, an ultrastable ultramicroporous Zn-MOF was designed and synthesized with a high yield. The pore diameter of the Zn-MOF is 3.6 Å, which lies in between the diameters of C₂H₂ (3.3 Å) and C₂H₄ (4.2 Å) molecules, leading to an efficient separation of the C₂H₂/C₂H₄ mixtures by the sieving effect. The practical separation performance of C₂H₂/C₂H₄ was confirmed by the dynamic breakthrough experiments. Moreover, the high stability enables the adsorption capacity of the Zn-MOF to C₂H₂, which can be maintained under a wide range of pH (1–13). Molecular simulations were also performed to identify the different C₂H₂- and C₂H₄-binding sites in Zn-MOF.     

The Catalytic Dehydrogenation of c2h6 to c2h4 under non-Oxidative Conditions over the 6cr/g-al2o3Catalyst

In the present paper, the catalytic dehydrogenation of C₂H₆ to C₂H₄ under non-oxidative conditions was investigated in a fixed-bed micro-reactor under ambient pressure at 823 - 923 K. The 6Cr/g-Al₂O₃ catalyst was found to be the best catalyst among the g-Al₂O₃, SiO₂, MCM41, MgO and Si-2 supported chromium oxide catalysts. The features of the 6Cr/g-Al₂O₃ catalyst for the reaction could be listed as follows: (1) At 823 - 923 K, the C₂H₄ selectivity of 92.5-78.6% at a C₂H₆ conversion of 9.5-29.8% could be obtained. (2) The catalyst had the good regeneration performance, i.e., could be regenerated by air repeatedly. (3) The main products were C₂H₄, CH₄, H₂ and coke. No carbon oxides were identified.     

Ultramicroporous Covalent Organic Framework Nanosheets with Functionality Pair for Membrane C2H2/C2H4 Separation

Gas separation efficiency of covalent organic framework (COF) membrane can be greatly elevated through precise functionalization. A pair-functionalized COF membrane of 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol (TP) and isoquinoline-5,8-diamine (IQD) monomers in two and three nodes is designed and synthesized. TP-IQD is crystallized in a two-dimensional structure with a pore size of 6.5 Å and a surface area of 289 m² g⁻¹. This COF possesses N−O paired groups which cooperatively interact with C₂H₂ instead of C₂H₄. TP-IQD nanosheets of ≈10 μm in width and ≈4 nm in thickness are prepared by mechanical exfoliation; they are further processed with 6FDA-ODA polymer into a hybrid membrane. High porosity and functionality pair of TP-IQD offer the membrane with significantly increased C₂H₂ permeability and C₂H₂/C₂H₄ selectivity which are 160 % and 430 % higher of pure 6FDA-ODA. The boosted performance demonstrates high efficiency of the pair-functionality strategy for the synthesis of separation-led COFs.     

Darstellung und Charakterisierung der Fulleren-Kokristallisate C60 · 12 C6H12, C70 · 12 C6H12, C60 · 12 CCl4, C60 · 2 CHBr3, C60 · 2 CHCl3, C60 · 2 H2CCl2

Synthesis and Characterization of the Fullerene Co-Crystals C₆₀ · 12 C₆H₁₂, C₇₀ · 12 C₆H₁₂, C₆₀ · 12 CCl₄, C₆₀ · 2CHBr₃, C₆₀ · 2CHCl₃, C₆₀ · 2H₂CCl₂ By crystallization of fullerenes from non-polar solvents (C₆H₁₂, CCl₄, CHBr₃, CHCl₃, H₂CCl₂) compounds of the following compositions were obtained: C₆₀ · 12C₆H₁₂, C₇₀ · 12C₆H₁₂, C₆₀ · 12CCl₄, C₆₀ · 2CHCl₃, C₆₀ · 2CHBr₃ and C₆₀ · 2H₂CCl₂. Lattice parameters have been determined by X-ray diffraction of powder samples; according to single-crystal examinations on C₆₀ · 12C₆H₁₂, C₆₀ · 12CCl₄ and C₆₀ · 2CHBr₃ the fullerene is orientationally disordered. C₆₀ · 12C₆H₁₂, cubic, a = 28.167(1) Å; C₇₀ · 12C₆H₁₂, cubic, a = 28.608(2) Å; C₆₀ · 12CCl₄, cubic, a = 27.42(1) Å; C₆₀ · 2CHBr₃, hexagonal, a = 10.212(1), c = 10.209(1) Å; C₆₀ · 2CHCl₃, hexagonal, a = 10.08(1), c = 10.11(2) Å; C₆₀ · 2H₂CCl₂, tetragonal, a = 16.400(1) Å, c = 11.645(7) Å.     

Overcoming the Trade-Off between C2H2 Sorption and Separation Performance by Regulating Metal-Alkyne Chemical Interaction in Metal-Organic Frameworks

Designing porous materials for C₂H₂ purification and safe storage is essential research for industrial utilization. We emphatically regulate the metal-alkyne interaction of Pd^II and Pt^II on C₂H₂ sorption and C₂H₂/CO₂ separation in two isostructural NbO metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), Pd/Cu-PDA and Pt/Cu-PDA . The experimental investigations and systematic theoretical calculations reveal that Pd^II in Pd/Cu-PDA undergoes spontaneous chemical reaction with C₂H₂, leading to irreversible structural collapse and loss of C₂H₂/CO₂ sorption and separation. Contrarily, Pt^II in Pt/Cu-PDA shows strong di-σ bond interaction with C₂H₂ to form specific π-complexation, contributing to high C₂H₂ capture (28.7 cm³ g⁻¹ at 0.01 bar and 153 cm³ g⁻¹ at 1 bar). The reusable Pt/Cu-PDA efficiently separates C₂H₂ from C₂H₂/CO₂ mixtures with satisfying selectivity and C₂H₂ capacity (37 min g⁻¹). This research provides valuable insight into designing high-performance MOFs for gas sorption and separation.     

On the interaction of Mo and Mo2 with NH3, C2H4, and C3H6

The reactivity of Mo and Mo₂ with ammonia, ethene, and propene molecules has been investigated by using Density Functional Theory. Different gradient‐corrected and hybrid exchange‐correlation functionals have been employed. Coordination modes, binding energies, geometrical structures, vibrational frequencies have been computed and compared with the available experimental counterparts. The results obtained show that the molybdenum atom is able to react with C₂H₄ and C₃H₆, and binds weakly with NH₃. The dimer Mo₂ gives a stable complexes with ammonia, ethene, and propene. For the Mo₂NH₃ complex, all the employed levels of theory give binding energies in good agreement with the experimental value, while in the case of the MoC₂H₄ system, the use of model core potentials coupled with gradient‐corrected exchange‐correlation functionals overestimates the binding energies. For MoC₃H₆, Mo₂C₂H₄, and Mo₂C₃H₆ we predict a binding energy of 14–15, 20–24, and 18–20 kcal/mol, respectively. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 1557–1564, 2001     

Synthese und Struktur von [(Ph3C6H2)Te]2, [(Ph3C6H2)Te(AuPPh3)2]PF6 und [(Ph3C6H2)TeAuI2]2

Synthesis and Structure of [(Ph₃C₆H₂)Te]₂, [(Ph₃C₆H₂)Te(AuPPh₃)₂]PF₆ and [(Ph₃C₆H₂)TeAuI₂]₂ [(2,4,6-Ph₃C₆H₂)Te]₂ reacts with Ph₃PAu⁺ to yield [2,4,6-Ph₃C₆H₂TeAuPPh₃₂]PF₆ which can be oxidized by I₂ to form the gold(III) complex [(2,4,6-Ph₃C₆H₂)TeAuI₂]₂. [(2,4,6-Ph₃C₆H₂)Te]₂ crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 810.6(2); b = 2026.5(5); c = 2260.6(7) pm; β = 99.23(3)° and Z = 4. In the crystal structure the ditelluride exhibits a dihedral angle C11? Te1? Te2? C21 of 66.1(2)°. The distance Te1? Te2 is 269.45(6) pm. In the cation of the triclinic complex [(2,4,6-Ph₃C₆H₂)Te(AuPPh₃)₂]PF₆ (space group P1 ; a = 1197.4(3); b = 1457.2(4); c = 1680.0(6) pm; α = 84.69(3)°; β = 85.11(3)°; γ = 75.54(3)°; Z = 2) a pyramidal skeleton RTeAu₂ with distances Te? Au = 259.2(1) and 257.8(2) pm and Au? Au = 295.3(1) pm is present. [(2,4,6-Ph₃C₆H₂)TeAuI₂]₂ crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with a = 1086.3(3); b = 1462.9(6); c = 1654.2(2) pm; α = 85.25(2)°; β = 87.44(1)°; γ = 80.90(3)°; Z = 2. In the centrosymmetrical dinuclear complex [(2,4,6-Ph₃C₆H₂)TeAuI₂]₂ the Au atoms exhibit a square-planar coordination by two iodine atoms and two tellurolate ligands. The tellurolate ligands form symmetrical bridges with distances Te? Au = 260.0 pm. The distances Au? I are in the range of 260.3(1) and 263.7(1) pm.     

Theoretical and kinetic study of the H + C2H5CN reaction

The reaction of H radical with C₂H₅CN has been studied using various quantum chemistry methods. The geometries were optimized at the B3LYP/6‐311+G(d,p) and B3LYP/6‐311++G(2d,2p) levels. The single‐point energies were calculated using G3 and BMC‐CCSD methods based on B3LYP/6‐311++G(2d,2p) geometries. Four mechanisms were investigated, namely, hydrogen abstraction, C‐addition/elimination, N‐addition/elimination and substitution. The kinetics of this reaction were studied using the transition state theory and multichannel Rice‐Ramsperger‐Kassel‐Marcus methodologies over a wide temperature range of 200–3000 K. The calculated results indicate that C‐addition/elimination channel is the most feasible over the whole temperature range. The deactivation of initial adduct C₂H₅CHN is dominant at lower temperature with bath gas H₂ of 760 Torr; whereas C₂H₅+HCN is the dominant product at higher temperature. Our calculated rate constants are in good agreement with the available experimental data. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

Low-Concentration C2H6 Capture Enabled by Size Matching in the Ultramicropore

Low-concentration ethane capture is crucial for environmental protection and natural gas purification. The ideal physisorbent with strong C₂H₆ interaction and large C₂H₆ uptake at low-concentration level has rarely been reported, due to the large pK_a value and small quadrupole moment of C₂H₆. Herein, we demonstrate the perfectly size matching between the ultramicropore (pore size of 4.6 Å) and ethane (kinetic diameter of 4.4 Å) in a nickel pyridine-4-carboxylate metal–organic framework (IISERP-MOF 2 ), which enables the record-breaking performance for low concentration C₂H₆ capture. IISERP-MOF 2 exhibits the large C₂H₆ adsorption enthalpy of 56.7 kJ/mol, and record-high C₂H₆ uptake at low pressure of 0.01–0.1 bar and 298 K (1.8 mmol/g at 0.01 bar). Molecule simulations and C₂H₆-loading crystal structure analysis revealed that the maximized interaction sites in IISERP-MOF 2 with ethane molecule originates the strong C₂H₆ adsorption. The dynamic breakthrough experiments for gas mixtures of C₂H₆/N₂(1/999, v/v) and C₂H₆/CH₄ (5/95, v/v) proved the excellent low-concentration C₂H₆ capture performance.     

Gram-Scale Synthesis of an Ultrastable Microporous Metal-Organic Framework for Efficient Adsorptive Separation of C2H2/CO2 and C2H2/CH4

A highly water and thermally stable metal-organic framework (MOF) Zn₂(Pydc)(Ata)₂ (1, H₂Pydc = 3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid; HAta = 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole) was synthesized on a large scale using inexpensive commercially available ligands for efficient separation of C₂H₂ from CH₄ and CO₂. Compound 1 could take up 47.2 mL/g of C₂H₂ under ambient conditions but only 33.0 mL/g of CO₂ and 19.1 mL/g of CH₄. The calculated ideal absorbed solution theory (IAST) selectivities for equimolar C₂H₂/CO₂ and C₂H₂/CH₄ were 5.1 and 21.5, respectively, comparable to those many popular MOFs. The Q_st values for C₂H₂, CO₂, and CH₄ at a near-zero loading in 1 were 43.1, 32.1, and 22.5 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The practical separation performance for C₂H₂/CO₂ mixtures was further confirmed by column breakthrough experiments.     

Tuning Pore Polarization to Boost Ethane/Ethylene Separation Performance in Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Frameworks

Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) show great potential in energy-saving C₂H₆/C₂H₄ separation, but there are few examples of one-step acquisition of C₂H₄ from C₂H₆/C₂H₄ because it is still difficult to achieve the reverse-order adsorption of C₂H₆ and C₂H₄. In this work, we boost the C₂H₆/C₂H₄ separation performance in two graphene-sheet-like HOFs by tuning pore polarization. Upon heating, an in situ solid phase transformation can be observed from HOF-NBDA(DMA) (DMA=dimethylamine cation) to HOF-NBDA , accompanied with transformation of the electronegative skeleton into neutral one. As a result, the pore surface of HOF-NBDA has become nonpolar, which is beneficial to selectively adsorbing C₂H₆. The difference in the capacities for C₂H₆ and C₂H₄ is 23.4 cm³ g⁻¹ for HOF-NBDA , and the C₂H₆/C₂H₄ uptake ratio is 136 %, which are much higher than those for HOF-NBDA(DMA) (5.0 cm³ g⁻¹ and 108 % respectively). Practical breakthrough experiments demonstrate HOF-NBDA could produce polymer-grade C₂H₄ from C₂H₆/C₂H₄ (1/99, v/v) mixture with a high productivity of 29.2 L kg⁻¹ at 298 K, which is about five times as high as HOF-NBDA(DMA) (5.4 L kg⁻¹). In addition, in situ breakthrough experiments and theoretical calculations indicate the pore surface of HOF-NBDA is beneficial to preferentially capture C₂H₆ and thus boosts selective separation of C₂H₆/C₂H₄.     

New Borate‐citrate: Synthesis,Structure, and Properties of Sr[B(C6H5O7)2](H2O)4·3H2O

Single crystals of Sr[B(C₆H₅O₇)₂](H₂O)₄ · 3H₂O, a new borate‐citrate material, were grown with sizes up to 8 × 6 × 2 mm by slow evaporation of water at room temperature. The structure of Sr[B(C₆H₅O₇)₂](H₂O)₄ · 3H₂O was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c, with a = 11.363(3) Å, b = 18.829(4) Å, c = 11.976(3) Å, β = 110.736(3)°, and Z = 4. The SrO₈ dodecahedra, BO₄ tetrahedra and citrate groups are linked together to form chains. The compound was characterized by IR and UV/Vis/NIR transmittance spectroscopy as well as thermal analysis.     

Theoretical Investigation of the Fusion Process of Mono-Cages to Tri-Cages with CH4/C2H6 Guest Molecules in sI Hydrates

Owing to a stable and porous cage structure, natural gas hydrates can store abundant methane and serve as a potentially natural gas resource. However, the microscopic mechanism of how hydrate crystalline grows has not been fully explored, especially for the structure containing different guest molecules. Hence, we adopt density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the fusion process of structure I hydrates with CH₄/C₂H₆ guest molecules from mono-cages to triple-cages. We find that the volume of guest molecules affects the stabilities of large (5¹²6², L) and small (5¹², s) cages, which are prone to capture C₂H₆ and CH₄, respectively. Mixed double cages (small cage and large cage) with the mixed guest molecules have the highest stability and fusion energy. The triangular triple cages exhibit superior stability because of the three shared faces, and the triangular mixed triple cages (large-small-large) structure with the mixed guest molecules shows the highest stability and fusion energy in the triple-cage fusion process. These results can provide theoretical insights into the growth mechanism of hydrates with other mono/mixed guest molecules for further development and application of these substances.     

Orientation of endohedral H2, CO,and LiH inside heptagon‐containing C58 and C58H18

Three H₂@C₅₈H_x, six CO@C₅₈H_x, and six LiH@C₅₈H_x (x = 0 and 18) complexes were optimized using B3LYP/6‐31G* method. The results show that both C₅₈ and C₅₈H₁₈ destabilize nonpolar H₂ and weakly polar CO, and stabilize strongly polar LiH inside their cages. Three H₂@C₅₈H_x (x = 0 and 18) complexes are nearly equivalent in energy, and CO orients the longest direction of cage because of spatial repulsion between them in the most stable CO@C₅₈H_x (x = 0 and 18) isomers. Orientation of LiH inside C₅₈H_x (x = 0 and 18) cages is determined by dipole‐induced dipole attractive interaction between them, and this attraction is especially significant in LiH@C₅₈H₁₈ complexes. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010     

DFT studies on the mechanism of the reaction of C2H5S with NO2

The mechanisms for the reaction of C₂H₅S with NO₂ are investigated at the QCISD(T)/6‐311++G(d, p)//B3LYP/6‐311++G(d, p) level on both single and triple potential energy surfaces. The geometries, vibrational frequencies and zero‐point energy (ZPE) corrections of all stationary points involved in the title reaction are calculated at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d, p) level. The results show that the reaction is more predominant on the single potential energy surface, while it is negligible on the triple potential energy surface. Without barrier height in the whole process, the major channel is R → C₂H₅SONO (IM1 and IM2) → P1 (C₂H₅SO+NO). With much heat released in the formation of C₂H₅SNO₂ (IM3) and the transition state involved in the subsequent step more stable than reactants, P4 (CH₃CHS + t‐HONO) is subdominant product energetically. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

The DFT study on mechanisms for NCO with C2H5 reaction

A detailed investigation has been performed at the QCISD(T)/6‐311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6‐311+G(d,p) level for the reaction of NCO with C₂H₅ by constructing singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces (PES). The results show that the title reaction is more favorable on the singlet PES than on the triplet PES. On the singlet PES, the initial addition processes are barrierless and release lots of energy. The dominant channel occurs via the fragmentations of the initial adduct C₂H₅NCO and C₂H₅OCN to form C₂H₄ + HNCO and HOCN, respectively. With higher barrier heights, other products such as CH₄ + HNC + CO, CH₃CHNH + CO, CH₃CH + HNCO, and CH₃CN + H₂ + CO are less competitive. On the triplet PES, the entrance reactions surpass significant barriers; therefore, it could be negligible at the normal atmospheric condition. However, the most feasible channel on the triplet PES is the direct hydrogen abstraction channel to form CH₂CH₂ + HNCO. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Rigid Nanoporous Urea-Based Covalent Triazine Frameworks for C2/C1 and CO2/CH4 Gas Separation

C2/C1 hydrocarbon separation is an important industrial process that relies on energy-intensive cryogenic distillation methods. The use of porous adsorbents to selectively separate these gases is a viable alternative. Highly stable covalent triazine frameworks (urea-CTFs) have been synthesized using 1,3-bis(4-cyanophenyl)urea. Urea-CTFs exhibited gas uptakes of C₂H₂ (3.86 mmol/g) and C₂H₄ (2.92 mmol/g) at 273 K and 1 bar and is selective over CH₄. Breakthrough simulations show the potential of urea-CTFs for C2/C1 separation.     

Significant Enhancement of C2H2/C2H4 Separation by a Photochromic Diarylethene Unit: A Temperature- and Light-Responsive Separation Switch

A dual temperature- and light-responsive C₂H₂/C₂H₄ separation switch in a diarylethene metal–organic framework (MOF) is presented. At 195 K and 100 kPa this MOF shows ultrahigh C₂H₂/C₂H₄ selectivity of 47.1, which is almost 21.4 times larger than the corresponding value of 2.2 at 293 K and 100 kPa, or 15.7 times larger than the value of 3.0 for the material under UV at 195 K and 100 kPa. The origin of this unique control in C₂H₂/C₂H₄ selectivity, as unveiled by density functional calculations, is due to a guest discriminatory gate-opening effect from the diarylethene unit.     

Stabilization Studies on Divalent Five‐Membered Rings C4H4C,C4H4Si,C4H4Ge,C4H4Sn,and C4H4Pb

Energy differences, ΔX_S‐t (X = E, H and G) (ΔX_S‐t = X_(singlet)‐X_(triplet)) between singlet (s) and triplet (t) states are calculated at B3LYP/6‐311++G (3df,2p). The DFT calculations show that the triplet state of C₄H₄C is a ground state with planar conformer respect to its corresponding nonplanar singlet state. Both singlet and triplet states of C₄H₄M (M = Si, Ge, Sn and Pb) have a planar conformer with the singlet ground state. Four isodesmic reactions are presented for determining the stability energies, SE. NICS calculations are carried out for C₄H₄M to determine the aromatic character.