Phosphonates Meet Metal−Organic Frameworks: Towards CO₂ Adsorption

Abstract

Abstract Here we report a new highly microporous zirconium phosphonate material synthesized under solvothemal conditions. The specific Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) surface area of the “unconventional metal−organic framework” (UMOF) is measured to be ∼900 m 2 /g, after following an appropriate activation protocol. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) shows that the material bears a free −OH functionality on the phosphonate linker that may interact with CO 2 . CO 2 adsorption isotherms were collected and a measured heat of adsorption of 31 kJ/mol was obtained. In addition, adsorption isotherms of CO 2 , N 2 , and CH 4 at 298 K combined with Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory (IAST) show that the material can be expected to display high selectivities for uptake of CO 2 versus N 2 or CH 4 .