A Robust Squarate-Cobalt\nMetal–Organic Framework\nfor CO₂/N₂ Separation

Abstract

The separation of CO₂ from the industrial\npost-combustion\nflue gas is of great importance to reduce the increasingly serious\ngreenhouse effect, yet highly challenging due to the extremely high\nstability, low cost, and high separation performance requirements\nfor adsorbents under the practical operating conditions. Herein, we\nreport a robust squarate-cobalt metal–organic framework (MOF),\nFJUT-3, featuring an ultra-small 1D square channel decorated with\n−OH groups, for CO₂/N₂ separation. Remarkably,\nFJUT-3 not only has excellent stability under harsh chemical conditions\nbut also presents low-cost property for scale-up synthesis. Moreover,\nFJUT-3 shows excellent CO₂ separation performance under\nvarious humid and temperature conditions confirmed by the transient\nbreakthrough experiments, thus enabling FJUT-3 with adequate potentials\nfor industrial CO₂ capture and removal. The distinct CO₂ adsorption mechanism is well elucidated by theoretical calculations,\nin which the hierarchical C···O_CO₂, C–O···C_CO₂, and O–H···O_CO₂ interactions play a vital synergistic role in\nthe selective CO₂ adsorption process.