Robust metal-organic framework materials for clean air

人们越来越关注全球空气质量，高浓度的雾霾在全球范围内构成严重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大的成分，可引起严重的呼吸系统疾病。因此，为了减少排放，对能够捕获二氧化硫和氮氧化物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，而且大多数材料不够稳定。尽管MOF广泛且成功地用于分离N2、CO2、CH4和其他小分子气体，但能够可逆结合SO2和NO2的MOF材料极为罕见。最近，MFM-MOF团队发现了许多基于Cu， Al和zn的多孔mof，它们在SO2和NO2捕获方面表现出前所未有的性能，表现出创纪录的高SO2和NO2选择性，吸收能力和存储密度。我们的部分研究成果已于近期发表（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），并在CNN新闻中被强调为清洁空气的突破性技术。这为研究MOF材料中SO2和NOx的化学性质提供了一个独特而及时的机会。该博士项目旨在支持系统研究SO2和NO2在一系列具有坚固框架结构和修饰孔环境的稳定MOFs中的吸附、结合、相行为、电子结构、释放和分离。我们在mof中处理腐蚀性气体方面的丰富经验将(i)使其成为吸附去除SO2和NO2的新兴吸附剂；（ii）为设计具有更好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研究所的博士生提供良好的培养环境。

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.