Investigating disordered guest SO2 molecules within an amine-decorated MOF with large-pore apertures

Porous functional metal-organic framework (MOF) materials show great potential for gas adsorption and separation. We seek to develop new materials for removal of toxic gases (esp. SO2, a major air pollutant) and request 4 days on NIMROD to study the distribution of SO2 in a highly porous stable, amine-functionalised MOF material (MFM-174) as a function of gas loading. This proposal will allow us to perform correlation studies that will enable the determination of the mechanism of SO2 adsorption, in particular for the distribution of SO2 within the large pores at various pressures of SO2. Comparisons between MFM-174 and the non-amine analogue MFM-170 (Nat. Mater. 2019, DOI: 10.1038/s41563-019-0495-0) will explain the role of NH2 groups in enhancing selective SO2 adsorption. These studies will give important insights for the development of new materials for SO2 sequestration.