NPD studies of separation of alkenes and alkynes in robust bimetallic MOF materials

Light alkenes/alkynes (C2H2, C2H4, C3H4, and C3H6) separation is an important process in the polymer industry but this is highly challenging due to their similar physical properties. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have demonstrated promising potential for addressing this industrial challenge. We have developed a series of guest-metal functionalised hybrid materials derived from the parent aluminum 3,5-pyrazoledicarboxylate framework (MOF-303). These hybrid materials exhibit significantly enhanced potential for separating C2H2/C2H4 and C3H4/C3H6 mixtures compared with the pristine MOF-303. To understand the impact of metal incorporation on separation performance, it is essential to elucidate the structures of these host-guest systems. To gain crucial insights into their exceptional adsorption performance, we request 4 days on WISH to investigate the binding positions of C2 and C3 hydrocarbons within these MOFs via in situ neutron powder diffraction (NPD). This study will have significant impacts on the purification of alkynes from alkenes.