Pore-surface engineering in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and metal-organic gels (MOGs) with urea-functionalized ligands for H-bond controlled gas and liquid phase separations

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Christoph Janiak
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation ; Solid State and Surface Chemistry, Material Synthesis
• Term: from 2013 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 246578769

The general goal of the project is the synthesis of new mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) with urea-ligand containing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) or metal-organic gels (MOGs) for gas and liquid separations. The focus lies on the selective separation of gases or anions through H-bonding interactions. The target MOFs and MOGs which utilize the novel urea-functionalized ligands will be tested and embedded into polysulfone (PSF, PSU), Matrimid® and other polyimides, polyvinylene difluoride (PVDF) polymers for the synthesis of MOF- and MOG-MMMs.It is anticipated that the synthesized nanoporous urea-MOFs and urea-MOGs will selectively adsorb H-bond acceptor/donor species due to the hydrogen donor/acceptor character of the urea-functionalized ligands. Consequently, urea-MOF- and urea-MOG-MMMs should show a high selectivity for the separation of gases or anions with H-donor/acceptor functions.The urea-MOF- and urea-MOG-MMMs will be investigated for their gas- and anion-separation performance by gas permeation, pervaporation and reverse osmosis (RO). The separation performance will be determined by using single gases (isochoric, yielding ideal selectivities), gas mixtures as well as with gas solutions SO2, NH3, H2S in water or organic solvents (pervaporation) and with fluoride salt solutions (RO). The expected progress beyond the state of the art is seen in (A) the synthesis of nanoporous MOFs and MOGs bearing urea-functional organic sites; (B) new nanoporous MOFs and MOGs, bearing urea-functional organic sites, which will be suitable for the sorption/storage of small reactive molecules and/or harmful gases (NOx, SOx, NH3/amines and H2S/thiols); and (C) new functionalized MOFs, MOGs and MOF-/MOG-MMMs for gas and liquid separation applications.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants