Construction of Negative Electrostatic Pore Environments in a Scalable, Stable and Low‐Cost Metal‐organic Framework for One‐Step Ethylene Purification from Ternary Mixtures
Hui‐Min Wen, Chenyi Yu, Miaoyu Liu, Chenyan Lin, Beiyu Zhao, Hui Wu, Wei Zhou, Banglin Chen, Jun Hu
Abstract
Abstract One‐step separation of C 2 H 4 from ternary C 2 mixtures by physisorbents remains a challenge to combine excellent separation performance with high stability, low cost, and easy scalability for industrial applications. Herein, we report a strategy of constructing negative electrostatic pore environments in a stable, low‐cost, and easily scaled‐up aluminum MOF (MOF‐303) for efficient one‐step C 2 H 2 /C 2 H 6 /C 2 H 4 separation. This material exhibits not only record high C 2 H 2 and C 2 H 6 uptakes, but also top‐tier C 2 H 2 /C 2 H 4 and C 2 H 6 /C 2 H 4 selectivities at ambient conditions. Theoretical calculations combined with in situ infrared spectroscopy indicate that multiple N/O sites on pore channels can build a negative electro‐environment to provide stronger interactions with C 2 H 2 and C 2 H 6 over C 2 H 4 . Breakthrough experiments confirm its exceptional separation performance for ternary mixtures, affording one of the highest C 2 H 4 productivity of 1.35 mmol g −1 . This material is highly stable and can be easily synthesized at kilogram‐scale from cheap raw materials using a water‐based green synthesis. The benchmark combination of excellent separation properties with high stability and low cost in scalable MOF‐303 has unlocked its great potential in this challenging industrial separation.