Breathing phenomena in new porous Aluminium phosphonate

Aluminum phosphonate-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are particularly promising materials due to their chemical stability and tunable properties, making them ideal for industrial gas adsorption and separation. However, the structural dynamics of these MOFs, especially in relation to their pore content (adsorption/hydration), are not well understood. This study proposes to investigate the structural flexibility of a new aluminum phosphonate MOF, CAU-67, focusing on how hydration affects its crystal structure and phase transitions. Preliminary in-situ PXRD measurements have shown a direct link between the temperature and therefor the water content in the pores and flexibility, indicating (reversible) phase changes. To deepen our understanding, high-resolution in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments under different atmospheric conditions, including controlled water vapor dosing, will provide crucial insights into the breathing effects in phosphonate MOFs.