Abstract
Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are a promising class of crystalline solid state materials amenable to tailoring their porosity and functionality towards various applications. MOF reticular chemistry using the Molecular Building Block (MBB) approach offers potential to construct robust made-to-order MOFs, where desired structural and geometrical information are incorporated into the building blocks prior to the assembly process.
Here we present our efforts in designing and constructing made-to-order MOFs with the desired pore system for the adequate methane storage. Namely, the unique storage properties of a highly porous and stable, aluminium-based MOF with soc (square octahedral) topology will be detailed. This study revealed, for the first time, that the Al-soc-MOF platform can address the challenging Department of Energy (DOE) dual target of 0.5 g/g (gravimetric) and 264 cm3 (STP)/cm3 (volumetric) methane storage. Markedly, the Al-soc-MOF exhibited the highest total gravimetric and volumetric uptake for carbon dioxide and the utmost total and deliverable uptake for oxygen at relatively high pressures among all microporous MOFs.