Robust metal-organic framework materials for clean air

全球空气质量日益受到关注，高浓度的雾霾在全球范围内构成了重大的健康风险和环境问题。二氧化硫和氮氧化物是烟雾中毒性最强的成分，会导致严重的呼吸道疾病。因此，对能够捕获SO2和NOx以减少排放的材料的需求不断增加。然而，这是一个非常具有挑战性的目标，因为SO2和NO2具有很强的腐蚀性和反应性，而且大多数材料都不够稳定。尽管它们被广泛而成功地用于分离气体，如氮气、二氧化碳、甲烷和其他小分子，但可逆地结合SO2和NO2的MOF材料非常罕见。最近，MFM-MOF小组发现了一些多孔的铜、铝和锌基金属氧化物燃料电池，它们对SO2和NO2的捕获表现出前所未有的性能，表现出创纪录的高SO2和NO2选择性、吸收容量和存储密度。我们的部分研究成果最近发表(自然材料，2018，17,691-696；自然材料，2019，18,1358-1366；自然化学，2019，11,1085-1090；自然评论化学，2019，3,108-118)，并在CNN新闻中突出显示为清洁空气的突破性技术。这是在MOF材料中研究SO2和NOx化学的一个独特且非常及时的机会。PHD项目旨在支持系统地研究SO2和NO2在一系列稳定的MOF中的吸附、结合、相行为、电子结构、释放和分离，这些MOF具有坚固的框架结构和装饰的孔环境。我们在处理MOF中腐蚀性气体方面的丰富经验将使我们能够(I)将其作为新兴的吸附脱除SO2和NO2的吸着剂进行评估；(Ii)为设计具有更好的稳定性和气体结合性能的新型MOF提供关键见解。该项目将为国家设施的博士生提供良好的培训环境。

There is increasing concern over global air quality, with high concentrations of smog posing significant health risks and environmental problems worldwide. SO2 and NOx are the most toxic components in smog causing significant respiratory disease. There is therefore an ever-increasing demand for materials that can capture SO2 and NOx in order to mitigate emissions. However, this is a very challenging target since SO2 and NO2 are highly corrosive and reactive and most materials are not sufficiently stable. Despite their widespread and successful use in separations of gases such as N2, CO2, CH4 and other small molecules, MOF materials that reversibly bind SO2 and NO2 are extremely rare. Recently, the MFM-MOF group have discovered a number of porous Cu-, Al- and Zn-based MOFs that exhibit unprecedented performance for SO2 and NO2 capture, demonstrating record high SO2 and NO2 selectivity, uptake capacity and storage density. Part of our research results have been recently published (Nature Materials, 2018, 17, 691-696; Nature Materials, 2019, 18, 1358-1366; Nature Chemistry, 2019, 11, 1085-1090; Nature Review Chemistry, 2019, 3, 108-118) and highlighted in CNN News as a breakthrough technology for a clean air. This represents a unique and very timely opportunity to study SO2 and NOx chemistry within MOF materials. The PhD project aims to support the systematic investigation of the adsorption, binding, phase behaviour, electronic structure, release, and separation of SO2 and NO2 in a series of stable MOFs with robust framework structures and decorated pore environments. Our extensive experience in handling corrosive gases in MOFs will (i) enable their evaluation as emerging sorbents for adsorptive removal of SO2 and NO2; (ii) afford key insights into the design of new MOFs with improved stability and gas binding properties. The project will provide an excellent training environment for the PhD student at National Facilities.