Tuning porosity in macroscopic monolithic metal-organic frameworks for exceptional natural gas storage

B. M. Connolly, M. Aragones-Anglada, J. Gandara-Loe, N. A. Danaf, D. C. Lamb, J. P. Mehta, D. Vulpe, S. Wuttke, J. Silvestre-Albero, P. Z. Moghadam, A. E. H. Wheatley () and D. Fairen-Jimenez ()
Additional contact information
B. M. Connolly: University of Cambridge
M. Aragones-Anglada: University of Cambridge
J. Gandara-Loe: Universidad de Alicante
N. A. Danaf: Ludwig-Maximilians-Univerität
D. C. Lamb: Ludwig-Maximilians-Univerität
J. P. Mehta: University of Cambridge
D. Vulpe: University of Cambridge
S. Wuttke: Ludwig-Maximilians-Univerität
J. Silvestre-Albero: Universidad de Alicante
P. Z. Moghadam: University of Sheffield
A. E. H. Wheatley: University of Cambridge
D. Fairen-Jimenez: University of Cambridge

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Widespread access to greener energy is required in order to mitigate the effects of climate change. A significant barrier to cleaner natural gas usage lies in the safety/efficiency limitations of storage technology. Despite highly porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) demonstrating record-breaking gas-storage capacities, their conventionally powdered morphology renders them non-viable. Traditional powder shaping utilising high pressure or chemical binders collapses porosity or creates low-density structures with reduced volumetric adsorption capacity. Here, we report the engineering of one of the most stable MOFs, Zr-UiO-66, without applying pressure or binders. The process yields centimetre-sized monoliths, displaying high microporosity and bulk density. We report the inclusion of variable, narrow mesopore volumes to the monoliths’ macrostructure and use this to optimise the pore-size distribution for gas uptake. The optimised mixed meso/microporous monoliths demonstrate Type II adsorption isotherms to achieve benchmark volumetric working capacities for methane and carbon dioxide. This represents a critical advance in the design of air-stable, conformed MOFs for commercial gas storage.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10185-1

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