High-rate nanofluidic energy absorption in porous zeolitic frameworks.

Optimal mechanical impact absorbers are reusable and exhibit high specific energy absorption. The forced intrusion of liquid water in hydrophobic nanoporous materials, such as zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), presents an attractive pathway to engineer such systems. However, to harness their full potential, it is crucial to understand the underlying water intrusion and extrusion mechanisms under realistic, high-rate deformation conditions. Here, we report a critical increase of the energy absorption capacity of confined water-ZIF systems at elevated strain rates. Starting from ZIF-8 as proof-of-concept, we demonstrate that this attractive rate dependence is generally applicable to cage-type ZIFs but disappears for channel-containing zeolites. Molecular simulations reveal that this phenomenon originates from the intrinsic nanosecond timescale needed for critical-sized water clusters to nucleate inside the nanocages, expediting water transport through the framework. Harnessing this fundamental understanding, design rules are formulated to construct effective, tailorable and reusable impact energy absorbers for challenging new applications.

Atomistic insight in the flexibility and heat transport properties of the stimuli-responsive metal-organic framework MIL-53(Al) for water-adsorption applications using molecular simulations.

To exploit the full potential of metal-organic frameworks as solid adsorbents in water-adsorption applications, many challenges remain to be solved. A more fundamental insight into the properties of the host material and the influence that water exerts on them can be obtained by performing molecular simulations. In this work, the prototypical flexible MIL-53(Al) framework is modelled using advanced molecular dynamics simulations. For different water loadings, the presence of water is shown to affect the relative stability of MIL-53(Al), triggering a phase transition from the narrow-pore to the large-pore phase at the highest considered loading. Furthermore, the effect of confinement on the structural organisation of the water molecules is also examined for different pore volumes of MIL-53(Al). For the framework itself, we focus on the thermal conductivity, as this property plays a decisive role in the efficiency of adsorption-based technologies, due to the energy-intensive adsorption and desorption cycles. To this end, the heat transfer characteristics of both phases of MIL-53(Al) are studied, demonstrating a strong directional dependence for the thermal conductivity.

On the importance of anharmonicities and nuclear quantum effects in modelling the structural properties and thermal expansion of MOF-5.

In this article, we investigate the influence of anharmonicities and nuclear quantum effects (NQEs) in modelling the structural properties and thermal expansion of the empty MOF-5 metal-organic framework. To introduce NQEs in classical molecular dynamics simulations, two different methodologies are considered, comparing the approximate, but computationally cheap, method of generalised Langevin equation thermostatting to the more advanced, computationally demanding path integral molecular dynamics technique. For both methodologies, similar results were obtained for all the properties under investigation. The structural properties of MOF-5, probed by means of radial distribution functions (RDFs), show some distinct differences with respect to a classical description. Besides a broadening of the RDF peaks under the influence of quantum fluctuations, a different temperature dependence is also observed due to a dominant zero-point energy (ZPE) contribution. For the thermal expansion of MOF-5, by contrast, NQEs appear to be only of secondary importance with respect to an adequate modelling of the anharmonicities of the potential energy surface (PES), as demonstrated by the use of two differently parametrised force fields. Despite the small effect in the temperature dependence of the volume of MOF-5, NQEs do however significantly affect the absolute volume of MOF-5, in which the ZPE resulting from the intertwining of NQEs and anharmonicities plays a crucial role. A sufficiently accurate description of the PES is therefore prerequisite when modelling NQEs.

Quantum Free Energy Profiles for Molecular Proton Transfers.

Although many molecular dynamics simulations treat the atomic nuclei as classical particles, an adequate description of nuclear quantum effects (NQEs) is indispensable when studying proton transfer reactions. Herein, quantum free energy profiles are constructed for three typical proton transfers, which properly take NQEs into account using the path integral formalism. The computational cost of the simulations is kept tractable by deriving machine learning potentials. It is shown that the classical and quasi-classical centroid free energy profiles of the proton transfers deviate substantially from the exact quantum free energy profile.

Nuclear quantum effects on zeolite proton hopping kinetics explored with machine learning potentials and path integral molecular dynamics.

Proton hopping is a key reactive process within zeolite catalysis. However, the accurate determination of its kinetics poses major challenges both for theoreticians and experimentalists. Nuclear quantum effects (NQEs) are known to influence the structure and dynamics of protons, but their rigorous inclusion through the path integral molecular dynamics (PIMD) formalism was so far beyond reach for zeolite catalyzed processes due to the excessive computational cost of evaluating all forces and energies at the Density Functional Theory (DFT) level. Herein, we overcome this limitation by training first a reactive machine learning potential (MLP) that can reproduce with high fidelity the DFT potential energy surface of proton hopping around the first Al coordination sphere in the H-CHA zeolite. The MLP offers an immense computational speedup, enabling us to derive accurate reaction kinetics beyond standard transition state theory for the proton hopping reaction. Overall, more than 0.6 µs of simulation time was needed, which is far beyond reach of any standard DFT approach. NQEs are found to significantly impact the proton hopping kinetics up to ~473 K. Moreover, PIMD simulations with deuterium can be performed without any additional training to compute kinetic isotope effects over a broad range of temperatures.

Truly combining the advantages of polymeric and zeolite membranes for gas separations.

Mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) have been investigated to render energy-intensive separations more efficiently by combining the selectivity and permeability performance, robustness, and nonaging properties of the filler with the easy processing, handling, and scaling up of the polymer. However, truly combining all in one single material has proven very challenging. In this work, we filled a commercial polyimide with ultrahigh loadings of a high-aspect ratio, CO2-philic Na-SSZ-39 zeolite with a three-dimensional channel system that precisely separates gas molecules. By carefully designing both zeolite and MMM synthesis, we created a gas-percolation highway across a flexible and aging-resistant (more than 1 year) membrane. The combination of a CO2-CH4 mixed-gas selectivity of ~423 and a CO2 permeability of ~8300 Barrer outperformed all existing polymer-based membranes and even most zeolite-only membranes.

Modeling the Structural and Thermal Properties of Loaded Metal-Organic Frameworks. An Interplay of Quantum and Anharmonic Fluctuations.

Metal-organic frameworks show both fundamental interest and great promise for applications in adsorption-based technologies, such as the separation and storage of gases. The flexibility and complexity of the molecular scaffold pose a considerable challenge to atomistic modeling, especially when also considering the presence of guest molecules. We investigate the role played by quantum and anharmonic fluctuations in the archetypical case of MOF-5, comparing the material at various levels of methane loading. Accurate path integral simulations of such effects are made affordable by the introduction of an accelerated simulation scheme and the use of an optimized force field based on first-principles reference calculations. We find that the level of statistical treatment that is required for predictive modeling depends significantly on the property of interest. The thermal properties of the lattice are generally well described by a quantum harmonic treatment, with the adsorbate behaving in a classical but strongly anharmonic manner. The heat capacity of the loaded framework-which plays an important role in the characterization of the framework and in determining its stability to thermal fluctuations during adsorption/desorption cycles-requires, however, a full quantum and anharmonic treatment, either by path integral methods or by a simple but approximate scheme. We also present molecular-level insight into the nanoscopic interactions contributing to the material's properties and suggest design principles to optimize them.

Thermal Engineering of Metal-Organic Frameworks for Adsorption Applications: A Molecular Simulation Perspective.

Thermal engineering of metal-organic frameworks for adsorption-based applications is very topical in view of their industrial potential, in particular, since heat management and thermal stability have been identified as important obstacles. Hence, a fundamental understanding of the structural and chemical features underpinning their intrinsic thermal properties is highly sought-after. Herein, we investigate the nanoscale behavior of a diverse set of frameworks using molecular simulation techniques and critically compare properties such as thermal conductivity, heat capacity, and thermal expansion with other classes of materials. Furthermore, we propose a hypothetical thermodynamic cycle to estimate the temperature rise associated with adsorption for the most important greenhouse and energy-related gases (CO2 and CH4). This macroscopic response on the heat of adsorption connects the intrinsic thermal properties with the adsorption properties and allows us to evaluate their importance.