An Ultrastable Metal Azolate Framework with Binding Pockets for Optimal Carbon Dioxide Capture

In the evolution of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for carbon capture, a lasting challenge is to strike a balance between high uptake capacity/selectivity and low energy cost for regeneration. Meanwhile, these man‐made materials have to survive from practical demands such as stability under harsh conditions and feasibility of scale‐up synthesis. Reported here is a new MOF, Zn(imPim) (aka. MAF‐stu‐1), with an imidazole derivative ligand, featuring binding pockets that can accommodate CO₂ molecules in a fit‐like‐a‐glove manner. Such a high degree of shape complementarity allows direct observation of the loaded CO₂ in the pockets, and warrants its optimal carbon capture performances exceeding the best‐performing MOFs nowadays. Coupled with the record thermal (up to 680 °C) and chemical stability, as well as rapid large‐scale production, both encoded in the material design, Zn(imPim) represents a most competitive candidate to tackle the immediate problems of carbon dioxide capture.