Prism[5]arene-based nonporous adaptive crystals for the capture and detection of aromatic volatile organic compounds

Abstract

• A novel kind of nonporous adaptive crystals (NACs) NP5OCH3 showed great potential in the capture of aromatic VOCs. • The toluene adsorption capacity of NP5OCH3-based NACs reached 681 mg/g. • The benzene derivatives absorption could enhance the fluorescence of NP5OCH3 significantly. • NP5OCH3-based NACs showed high recyclability after removing aromatic VOCs by vacuum heating with low energy consumption. In this work, a naphthalene-based macrocycle prism[5]arene (NP5OCH3) was developed as a novel kind of nonporous adaptive crystals (NP5OCH3-based NACs). In ambient air mixed with aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), guest-induced crystalline phase transformation endowed the NP5OCH3-based NACs high capture capacities on different aromatic VOCs molecules. In addition to capture capacities, the intercrystalline adsorption endowed the NP5OCH3-based NACs fluorescence enhancement for aromatic VOCs detection and high recyclability by vacuum heating with low energy consumption. It was proved by single crystal diffraction and density functional theory calculation that the multiple non-covalent interactions (C-H···π, C-H···O) existed between the guest and macrocycle. Macrocyclic compound NP5OCH3 based on the guest-induced crystalline phase transition mechanism may provide a new idea for development of new adsorbents to capture and monitor harmful air pollutants.