Formation, Fragmentation, and Structures of YxOy(+) (x = 1, 2, y = 1 - 13) Clusters: Collision-Induced Dissociation Experiments and Density Functional Theory Calculations.

Yttrium oxide cluster cations have been experimentally and theoretically studied. We produced small, oxygen-rich yttrium oxide clusters, YxOy+ (x = 1, 2, y = 1­13), by mixing the laser-produced yttrium plasma with a molecular oxygen jet. Mass spectrometry measurements showed that the most stable clusters are those consisting of one yttrium and an odd number of oxygen atoms of the form YO(+)(2k+1) (k = 0­6). Additionally, we performed collision induced dissociation experiments, which indicated that the loss of pairs of oxygen atoms down to a YO+ core is the preferred fragmentation channel for all clusters investigated. Furthermore, we conduct DFT calculations and we obtained two types of low-energy structures: one containing an yttrium cation core and the other composed of YO+ core and O2 ligands, being in agreement with the observed fragmentation pattern. Finally, from the fragmentation studies, total collision cross sections are obtained and these are compared with geometrical cross sections of the calculated structures.

Multi-scale theoretical investigation of hydrogen storage in covalent organic frameworks.

The quest for efficient hydrogen storage materials has been the limiting step towards the commercialization of hydrogen as an energy carrier and has attracted a lot of attention from the scientific community. Sophisticated multi-scale theoretical techniques have been considered as a valuable tool for the prediction of materials storage properties. Such techniques have also been used for the investigation of hydrogen storage in a novel category of porous materials known as Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs). These framework materials are consisted of light elements and are characterized by exceptional physicochemical properties such as large surface areas and pore volumes. Combinations of ab initio, Molecular Dynamics (MD) and Grand Canonical Monte-Carlo (GCMC) calculations have been performed to investigate the hydrogen adsorption in these ultra-light materials. The purpose of the present review is to summarize the theoretical hydrogen storage studies that have been published after the discovery of COFs. Experimental and theoretical studies have proven that COFs have comparable or better hydrogen storage abilities than other competitive materials such as MOF. The key factors that can lead to the improvement of the hydrogen storage properties of COFs are highlighted, accompanied with some recently presented theoretical multi-scale studies concerning these factors.

Designing 3D COFs with enhanced hydrogen storage capacity.

Hydrogen storage properties have been studied on newly designed three-dimensional covalent-organic framework (3D-COF). The design of these materials was based on the ctn network of the ultralow density COF-102. The structures were optimized by multiscale techniques and the optimized structures were checked for their storage capacities by grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations. Our simulations demonstrate that the gravimetric uptake of one of these new COFs can overpass the value of 25 wt % in 77 K and reach the Department of Energy's target of 6 wt % in room temperature, classifying them between the top hydrogen storage materials.

Enhancement of hydrogen adsorption in metal-organic frameworks by the incorporation of the sulfonate group and Li cations. A multiscale computational study.

By means of ab initio methods, the effect on the H(2) storage ability of a newly proposed organic linker for IRMOF-14 has been studied. The linker comprises a negatively charged sulfonate (-SO(3)(-1)) group in combination with a Li cation. It is found that these two charged groups significantly increase the interaction energy between the hydrogen molecules and the new proposed organic linker of the MOF. The substituted group of the linker may host up to six hydrogen molecules with an average interaction energy of 1.5 kcal/mol per H(2) molecule. This value is three times larger than the binding energy over the bare linker that has been obtained from DFT calculations. GCMC atomistic simulations verified that the proposed material can be qualified among the highest adsorbing materials for volumetric capture of H(2), especially at ambient conditions. This functionalization strategy can be applied in many different MOF structures to enhance their storage abilities.

The effect of structural and energetic parameters of MOFs and COFs towards the improvement of their hydrogen storage properties.

Open-framework materials have been proposed as potential materials for hydrogen storage. Metal-organic framework (MOF) and covalent-organic framework (COF) materials are under extensive study to discover their storage abilities. In particular the IRMOF family of materials have been considered as ideal to study the effect of different factors that affect the hydrogen storage capacity. In this paper, we analyse the effect of different factors such as surface area, pore volume and the interaction of hydrogen with the molecular framework on the hydrogen uptake of such materials. Through this analysis we propose guidelines to enhance hydrogen storage capacity of already synthesized materials and recommend advanced materials for this application.

Improving hydrogen storage capacity of MOF by functionalization of the organic linker with lithium atoms.

A combination of quantum and classical calculations have been performed in order to investigate hydrogen storage in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) modified by lithium alkoxide groups. Ab initio calculations showed that the interaction energies between the hydrogen molecules and this functional group are up to three times larger compared with unmodified MOF. This trend was verified by grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations in various thermodynamic conditions. The gravimetric capacity of the Li-modified MOFs reached the value of 10 wt % at 77 K and 100 bar, while our results are very promising at room temperature, too, with 4.5 wt %.