In Situ 13C NMR Spectroscopy Study of CO2/CH4 Mixture Adsorption by Metal-Organic Frameworks: Does Flexibility Influence Selectivity?

Metal-organic frameworks are promising candidates for selective separation processes such as CO2 removal from methane (natural gas sweetening). Framework flexibility, that is, the ability of a MOF lattice to change its structure as a function of parameters like pressure, temperature, and type of adsorbed molecules, is only observed for some special compounds. The main question of our present work is: does framework flexibility influence the adsorption selectivity? As a direct quantitative method to monitor the adsorption of both, carbon dioxide and methane, we make use of high-pressure in situ 13C NMR spectroscopy of 13CO2/13CH4 gas mixtures. This method allows to distinguish between the two gases as well as between adsorbed molecules and the interparticle gas phase. Gas mixture adsorption is studied under isothermal conditions. The selectivity factor for CO2 adsorption from CO2/CH4 mixtures is measured as a function of total gas pressure. The flexible material SNU-9 as well as the flexible and the nonflexible variant of DUT-8(Ni) are compared. Maximum selectivity factors for CO2 are observed for the flexible variant of DUT-8(Ni) in its open, large-pore state. In contrast, the rigid variant of DUT-8(Ni) and SNU-9 especially in its intermediate state exhibits lower adsorption selectivity factors. This observation indicates significant influence of the framework elasticity on the adsorption selectivity.

Spontaneous Substitutions at Phosphorus Trihalides in Imidazolium Halide Ionic Liquids: Grotthuss Diffusion of Anions?

PX3 compounds (X=Cl, Br, I) in imidazolium halide ionic liquids combine with the anion Z (Z=Cl, Br, I) of the solvent to form [PX3 Z]- complex anions. These anions have a sawhorse shape in which the lone pair of the phosphorus atom fills the third equatorial position of the pseudotrigonal bipyramid. Theoretical results show that this association remains incomplete due to strong hydrogen bonding with the cations of the ionic liquid, which competes with the phosphorus trihalide for interaction with the Z- anion. Temperature-dependent 31 P NMR experiments indicated that the P-Z binding is weaker at higher temperature. Both theory and experiment evidence dynamic exchange of the halide anions at the phosphorus atom, together with continuous switching of the ligands at the phosphorus atom between equatorial and axial positions. Detailed knowledge of the mechanism of the spontaneous exchange of halogen atoms at phosphorus trihalides suggests a way to design novel, highly conducting ionic-liquid mixtures.

Mechanistic exploration of the copper(i) phosphide synthesis in phosphonium-based and phosphorus-free ionic liquids.

The mechanism of the synthesis of copper(i) phosphide (Cu3-xP) in the ionic liquid (IL) trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium chloride ([P66614][Cl]) was investigated. The phosphide formation is promoted by a transformation of red phosphorus (Pred) into mobile P4 molecules and a surface activation of copper caused by the IL including the Brønsted acidic impurity. The surface activation is important to obtain a quantitative product yield. Moreover, we demonstrate that single-phase Cu3-xP can also be synthesized in the nitrogen-based IL tetrabutylammonium chloride ([N4444][Cl]). Further substitution of the anion of the IL using tetrabutylammonium bromide ([N4444][Br]) or the complete replacement of the IL by a deep eutectic solvent consisting of adipic acid and betaine do not lead to single-phase Cu3-xP. Therefore, the nature of the anions present in the IL also seems to be relevant for the convenient phosphidization reaction.

Tailoring adsorption induced phase transitions in the pillared-layer type metal-organic framework DUT-8(Ni).

Tailoring the characteristics of gating transitions in the porous network, Ni2(ndc)2dabco (ndc = 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate, dabco = 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane), also termed DUT-8(Ni) (DUT = Dresden University of Technology), was achieved by systematically adjusting the critical synthesis parameters. The impact of the starting composition and solvent mixtures in the synthesis was found to critically affect the guest-response properties of the obtained materials. A comprehensive set of physical characterization methods, namely thermal analysis, 1H NMR of digested crystals, solid state 13C NMR, PXRD, SEM, IR and Raman spectroscopy shows that the crystallite size is a crucial factor, determining the differing characteristics such as "gate pressure" and adsorption capacity in the guest-responsive switching behaviour of DUT-8. Crystallites smaller than 500 nm in size retain the open form after removal of the guest molecules resulting in typical "Type Ia" isotherm, whereas crystallites larger than 1 µm transform into the "closed pore" form and therefore can show a characteristic "gate opening" behaviour during gas adsorption. The particle size distribution of DUT-8(Ni) can be tailored by changing the synthesis conditions and consequently the slope of the isotherm at the "gating step" is affected. The in depth analysis of synthesis conditions and switching behaviour is an important step towards a better understanding of the fundamental principles responsible for guest responsive porosity switching in the solid state.

Resource-Efficient High-Yield Ionothermal Synthesis of Microcrystalline Cu3-xP.

Polycrystalline Cu3-xP was successfully synthesized in different ionic liquids comprising imidazolium and phosphonium cations. The reaction of elemental copper and red phosphorus in trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride at 200 °C led to single-phase Cu3-xP (x = 0.05) within 24 h with a quantitative yield (99%). Liquid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the ionic liquids revealed degeneration of the imidazolium cations under the synthesis conditions, while phosphonium cations remain stable. The solid products were characterized with X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. A reinvestigation of the electronic transport properties of Cu2.95(4)P showed metallic behavior for the bulk material. The formation of CuP2 during the synthesis of phosphorus-rich Cu3-xP (x ≥ 0.1) was observed.