Trace CO2 capture by an ultramicroporous physisorbent with low water affinity.

CO2 accumulation in confined spaces represents an increasing environmental and health problem. Trace CO2 capture remains an unmet challenge because human health risks can occur at 1000 parts per million (ppm), a level that challenges current generations of chemisorbents (high energy footprint and slow kinetics) and physisorbents (poor selectivity for CO2, especially versus water vapor, and/or poor hydrolytic stability). Here, dynamic breakthrough gas experiments conducted upon the ultramicroporous material SIFSIX-18-Ni-ß reveal trace (1000 to 10,000 ppm) CO2 removal from humid air. We attribute the performance of SIFSIX-18-Ni-ß to two factors that are usually mutually exclusive: a new type of strong CO2 binding site and hydrophobicity similar to ZIF-8. SIFSIX-18-Ni-ß also offers fast sorption kinetics to enable selective capture of CO2 over both N2 (S CN) and H2O (S CW), making it prototypal for a previously unknown class of physisorbents that exhibit effective trace CO2 capture under both dry and humid conditions.

Solvent Dependent Spin-Crossover and Photomagnetic Properties in an Imidazolylimine FeII Complex.

The synthesis and physico-chemical characterization of an FeII complex [Fe(L1)3 ](ClO4 )2 ⋅CH3 CN⋅0.5H2 O, 1, incorporating a bidentate imidazolylimine-based ligand are reported. Complex 1 crystallises as the mer-isomer and the crystal lattice is replete with hydrogen bonding interactions between ClO4 - anions, solvent molecules and imidazole N-H groups. Variable-temperature structural, magnetic, photomagnetic and optical reflectivity techniques have been deployed to fully characterise the spin-crossover (SCO) behaviour in 1 along with its desolvated phase, 1⋅desolv. Variable-temperature (1.8-300 K) magnetic-susceptibility measurements reveal a broad two-step full SCO for 1 (T1/2 =158 and 184 K) and photomagnetic experiments at 10 K under white-light irradiation revealed complete photo-induced SCO. 1⋅desolv displays considerably different magnetic behaviour with sharp single-step SCO accompanied by a thermal hysteresis (T1/2↑ =105 K, T1/2↓ =95 K) in addition to full photo-induced SCO at lower temperatures.

A supramolecular porous material comprising Fe(ii) mesocates.

The dinuclear mesocate [Fe2L3](BF4)4, 1, is a supramolecular building block for a microporous material. Structural analysis reveals that extensive noncovalent interactions in the solid state generate a 3D framework with microporous channels. These channels are permanently accessible to incoming guest molecules and adsorption isotherms demonstrate that the material has a high selectivity for CO2 over N2.

Varied spin crossover behaviour in a family of dinuclear Fe(ii) triple helicate complexes.

Dinuclear triple-helicate complexes of the formula [Fe2L3](BF4)4·solv (solv = CH3CN, CHCl3, H2O) have been synthesised and structurally characterised. The bis-bidentate ligands, L, present either strong-field 2-pyridylimine (1) or weaker-field 2-imidazolylimine (2) and 4-imidazolylimine (3) coordination spheres about Fe(ii) centres in an octahedral geometry. Whereas 1 is pervasively diamagnetic, spin crossover (SCO) behaviour is observed in 2 and 3 and has been studied using variable-temperature structural, UV-visible spectroscopic, magnetic and photo-magnetic techniques. Variable-temperature (1.8-400 K) magnetic-susceptibility measurements reveal the T1/2 values of 2 and 3 to be strongly dependent upon the solvent and degree of solvation. Photomagnetic studies at 10 K under white-light irradiation revealed an inefficient photo-induced SCO in 2, but full switching in 3.

Highly Selective Separation of C2H2 from CO2 by a New Dichromate-Based Hybrid Ultramicroporous Material.

A new hybrid ultramicroporous material, [Ni(1,4-di(pyridine-2-yl)benzene)2(Cr2O7)]n (DICRO-4-Ni-i), has been prepared and structurally characterized. Pure gas sorption isotherms and molecular modeling of sorbate-sorbent interactions imply strong selectivity for C2H2 over CO2 (SAC). Dynamic gas breakthrough coupled with temperature-programmed desorption experiments were conducted on DICRO-4-Ni-i and two other porous materials reported to exhibit high SAC, TIFSIX-2-Cu-i and MIL-100(Fe), using a C2H2/CO2/He (10:5:85) gas mixture. Whereas CO2/C2H2 coadsorption by MIL-100(Fe) mitigated the purity of trapped C2H2, negligible coadsorption and high SAC were observed for DICRO-4-Ni-i and TIFSIX-2-Cu-i.

Flue-gas and direct-air capture of CO2 by porous metal-organic materials.

Sequestration of CO2, either from gas mixtures or directly from air (direct air capture), is a technological goal important to large-scale industrial processes such as gas purification and the mitigation of carbon emissions. Previously, we investigated five porous materials, three porous metal-organic materials (MOMs), a benchmark inorganic material, ZEOLITE 13X: and a chemisorbent, TEPA-SBA-15: , for their ability to adsorb CO2 directly from air and from simulated flue-gas. In this contribution, a further 10 physisorbent materials that exhibit strong interactions with CO2 have been evaluated by temperature-programmed desorption for their potential utility in carbon capture applications: four hybrid ultramicroporous materials, SIFSIX-3-CU: , DICRO-3-NI-I: , SIFSIX-2-CU-I: and MOOFOUR-1-NI: ; five microporous MOMs, DMOF-1: , ZIF-8: , MIL-101: , UIO-66: and UIO-66-NH2: ; an ultramicroporous MOM, NI-4-PYC: The performance of these MOMs was found to be negatively impacted by moisture. Overall, we demonstrate that the incorporation of strong electrostatics from inorganic moieties combined with ultramicropores offers improved CO2 capture performance from even moist gas mixtures but not enough to compete with chemisorbents.This article is part of the themed issue 'Coordination polymers and metal-organic frameworks: materials by design'.

Towards an understanding of the propensity for crystalline hydrate formation by molecular compounds.

Hydrates are technologically important and ubiquitous yet they remain a poorly understood and understudied class of molecular crystals. In this work, we attempt to rationalize propensity towards hydrate formation through crystallization studies of molecules that lack strong hydrogen-bond donor groups. A Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) survey indicates that the statistical occurrence of hydrates in 124 molecules that contain five- and six-membered N-heterocyclic aromatic moieties is 18.5%. However, hydrate screening experiments on a library of 11 N-heterocyclic aromatic compounds with at least two acceptor moieties and no competing hydrogen-bond donors or acceptors reveals that over 70% of this group form hydrates, suggesting that extrapolation from CSD statistics might, at least in some cases, be deceiving. Slurrying in water and exposure to humidity were found to be the most effective discovery methods. Electrostatic potential maps and/or analysis of the crystal packing in anhydrate structures was used to rationalize why certain molecules did not readily form hydrates.

Crystal engineering of a family of hybrid ultramicroporous materials based upon interpenetration and dichromate linkers.

A new family of 2-fold interpenetrated primitive cubic (pcu) networks of formula [M(L)2(Cr2O7)] n (M = Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+; L = 4,4'-azopyridine), DICRO-3-M-i, has been synthesised and their structures, permanent porosity and gas sorption properties were comprehensively characterised. Molecular simulations indicate that CO2 molecules occupy both of the two distinct ultramicropores that run through this isostructural series. The orientation of the Cr2O72- pillars is thought to contribute to high isosteric enthalpy of adsorption (Qst) towards CO2 and temperature programmed desorption experiments reveal that DICRO-3-Ni-i selectively adsorbs CO2 from gas mixtures that simulate flue gas. Performance in this context is among the highest for physisorbents measured to date and these materials are readily regenerated at 50 °C.

Novel mode of 2-fold interpenetration observed in a primitive cubic network of formula [Ni(1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)acetylene)2(Cr2O7)]n.

A primitive cubic (pcu) network of formula [Ni(1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)acetylene)2(Cr2O7)]n, , has been synthesised and found to exhibit a novel type of inclined 2-fold interpenetration and an isosteric heat of adsorption (Q(st)) of 30.5 kJ mol(-1) towards CO2 at zero loading. Q(st) is relatively high in the broad context but less than that observed in related hybrid ultramicroporous materials, a feature that can be understood after studying pore structure and molecular simulations of CO2 adsorption.

Double-walled pyr topology networks from a novel fluoride-bridged heptanuclear metal cluster.

Two isostructural metal-organic materials, Tripp-1-M (Tripp = 2,4,6-tris(4-pyridyl)pyridine; M = Co, Ni), that exhibit binodal 3,6-connected pyr network topology have been prepared and characterized. Tripp-1-M are based upon a novel M7F122+ cluster that possesses 12 connection points but, because of double cross-linking by 3-connected Tripp ligands, it functions as a 6-connected supermolecular building block (SBB).

Ferrocene-appended ligands for use in spin crossover-redox "hybrid" complexes of iron(II) and cobalt(II).

In a study of multifunctional ('hybrid') molecular materials, with one function being spin-crossover and the second being reversible redox behaviour, we describe ferrocene-appended ligands and their d(6) and d(7) complexes trans-[Fe(II)(FTP)2(NCS)2] (1), [Co(II)(FTTP)2](ClO4)2·2(MeCN) (2) and [Fe(II)(FTTP)2](ClO4)2·Et2O (3) (where FTP = 4-(2-pyridyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylferrocene and FTTP = 4'-ferrocenyl-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine). The structures, magnetism and solution electrochemistry are described. Complex 1 remains high-spin, 2 displays gradual, incomplete spin crossover and 3 remains low-spin between 350-2 K. The electrochemical results show that one-electron oxidations at the ferrocene group, located external to the coordination site, occur at more positive potentials than the 'inner' M(II/III) couple in 1 and 2, but not in 3, and this has implications for retaining and influencing spin transitions at the M(II) centres, in future.

Crown-linked dipyridylamino-triazine ligands and their spin-crossover iron(II) derivatives: magnetism, photomagnetism and cooperativity.

The syntheses, crystallography and magnetic properties of a series of compounds of formula trans-[Fe(II)(L(1))2(NCX)2] (X = S, Se, BH3 (1-3)), cis-[Fe(II)(L(2))(NCX)2]·CH2Cl2 (X = S, Se, BH3 (4-6)) and trans-[Fe(II)(L(3))(NCX)2]n (X = S, Se (7-8)) are described (L(1) = 6-chloro-N(2),N(2)-diethyl-N(4),N(4)-di(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine, L(2) = 6,6'-(1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diazacyclooctadecane-7,16-diyl)bis(N(2),N(2)-diethyl-N(4),N(4)-di(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine, L(3) = 6,6'-(1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diazacyclooctadecane-7,16-diyl)bis(N(2),N(2),N(4),N(4)-tetra(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine)). The magnetostructural properties of 1-8 have been probed in detail by variable temperature magnetic measurements and crystallographic methods. 1-6 display mononuclear structures while 7 and 8 form 1-D chain structures. Complexes 4-6 have the potential to form 1D-chains via L(2) bridging, but instead form mononuclear complexes. Magnetic studies show that complexes 1, 2, and 4 remain in the high-spin (HS) state at all temperatures. An aged, dry, powdered sample of 3 gives an abrupt HS to LS transition (T1/2 = 200 K), while a freshly prepared, powdered sample of 3·1.5H2O displays thermal hysteresis (Δ = 7 K). Complexes 5, 6 and 7 undergo a gradual spin transition with T1/2 values of 100 K, 150 K and 130 K, respectively. Cooperativity parameters are compared, with 3 showing cooperativity (positive C) and 5 and 6 showing anticooperativity. Photomagnetic LIESST (light induced excited spin state trapping) studies were performed on complexes 5 and 6 and reveal T(LIESST) values lower than 60 K. An attempt has been made to understand the electronic structure of complex 3 and its cooperativity behaviour using density functional methods, the calculations reproducing the sign and, in part, the magnitude of the cooperativity.

A ferrocenyl-substituted 1,2,4-triazole ligand and its Fe(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) 1D-chain complexes.

As part of a program aimed at making bifunctional iron(II) spin-crossover (SCO) materials, particularly those having redox/electron transfer as the second function, we have made the new ferrocene-triazole ligand ATF ([(4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)amino]methylferrocene), (1), and a series of M(II) complexes of this ligand with emphasis on iron(II). Polynuclear 1D-chain complexes [Fe(ATF)3](Br)2·0.5(H2O) (2), [Fe(ATF)3](ClO4)2·0.5(H2O) (3), [Ni(ATF)3](ClO4)2·0.5(H2O) (4) and an analogous complex formed with a positively charged ATF ligand [Fe(ATF(+))3](ClO4)5 (6) were formed as polycrystalline powders. Crystals of a mixed ATF/NCS-bridged copper(II) polymer [Cu(ATF)2(NCS)](ClO4)·(Et2O)0.5(MeCN) (5) were formed and structurally characterised. Magnetic and Mössbauer spectral measurements on 2, 3 and 6 indicated that SCO has not been achieved though the Mössbauer data show interesting temperature dependence for doublets of the two iron sites for complexes 2 and 3. Solid state cyclic voltammetric data on the iron(II) complexes 3 and 4 showed well defined, reversible ATF-based electrochemistry, similar to those shown by ATF in solution.