Lattice-driven gating in a Cu-based zeolitic imidazolate framework for efficient high-temperature hydrogen isotope separation

Minji Jung, Jaewoo Park, Raeesh Muhammad, Taeung Park, Sung-Yeop Jung, Jungwon Yi, Cheolwon Jung, Jacques Ollivier, Anibal J. Ramirez-Cuesta, Jitae T. Park, Jaheon Kim (), Margarita Russina () and Hyunchul Oh ()
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Minji Jung: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)
Jaewoo Park: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)
Raeesh Muhammad: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)
Taeung Park: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)
Sung-Yeop Jung: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)
Jungwon Yi: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)
Cheolwon Jung: Soongsil University
Jacques Ollivier: 38042
Anibal J. Ramirez-Cuesta: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Jitae T. Park: Technische Universität München
Jaheon Kim: Soongsil University
Margarita Russina: Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin fur Materialien und Energie Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1
Hyunchul Oh: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract For the separation of hydrogen isotopes (H2/D2), traditional kinetic quantum sieving (KQS) takes advantage of the diffusion barriers created by the flexibility of organic linkers and the breathing frameworks in porous solids. While the phenomena have been observed typically below 77 K, in this study, we present that a copper-based zeolite imidazolate framework (Cu-ZIF-gis) can show KQS above 120 K. Since Cu-ZIF-gis has narrow channels with ca. 2.4 Å in aperture, the small pore size itself acts as a diffusion barrier. This barrier changes with temperatures, leading to pore contraction or expansion through lattice-driven gating (LDG). The H2 adsorption isotherms measured at 40 – 150 K reflect the temperature sensitivity of the pore properties. Quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) experiments indicate a notable difference in the molecular mobility of H2 and D2, even at temperatures exceeding 150 K. Temperature-variation powder X-ray diffraction measurements at 20 – 300 K show a small but gradual increase in the unit cell volume, indicating that LDG gives rise to the KQS at temperatures above 120 K. These findings can be applied to develop sustainable isotope separation technologies using existing LNG cryogenic infrastructure.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56649-5

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