A new microporous metal–organic framework with potential for highly selective separation methane from acetylene, ethylene and ethane at room temperature

Abstract

A new three-dimensional microporous metal–organic framework, Cu2(OFDI) (ZJU-61, H4OFDI=5,5′-(9-oxo-9H-fluorene-2,7-diyl)diisophthalic acid) was solvothermally synthesized. ZJU-61 features a three-dimensional structure with a rare sty-a type topology and has three different types of pore apertures. With open metal sites and suitable pore spaces, ZJU-61 can readily separate methane from gas mixture at room temperature with the highest C2H2/CH4 separation selectivity of 74.4.