Unexpected carbon dioxide inclusion in water-saturated pores of metal-organic frameworks with potential for highly selective capture of CO2.

Unusual CO2 storage in water-saturated MOFs was investigated by combining experiment and simulation. It was found that the micropores of HKUST-1 saturated with water provide an environment that is thermodynamically and kinetically favorable for CO2 capture, but not for N2 and H2 capture. We expect that this phenomenon have potential to be used for successful separation of CO2 from versatile flue streams and pre-combustion gas.