NOTT-202: UK Scientists Create Metal-Organic Framework That Absorbs CO2

NOTT-202a, carbon capture, metal-organic framework, university of nottingham, university of newcastle, gas storage, diamond light source, STFC Daresbury Laboratory, metallic porous material, carbon capture project

In a collaboration between the University of Nottingham and the University of Newcastle, the Diamond Light Source and STFC Daresbury Laboratory have seen the creation of a metallic porous material that is able to absorb and retain CO2. The metal organic framework, known as NOTT-202a, is part of an ongoing effort by UK scientists to develop new materials for gas storage applications. The development will hopefully play a key part in reducing global emissions through carbon capture.

The report which was published in Nature Materials, states that NOTT-202a is a unique honeycomb-like structural arrangement that is considered to be the first step in an entirely new class of porous material. Consisting of tetra-carboxylate ligands, NOTT-202a is made up of a series of molecules or ions, bound to a central metal atom and filled with indium metal centres. This essentially forms a novel structure consisting of two interlocked frameworks.

All of this allows for NOTT-202a to work like a metallic sponge that holds certain gases, but releases others. For example, when absorbing the air, gases such as nitrogen, methane and hydrogen can pass through, but the carbon dioxide remains trapped in the materials nanopores. The entire process even works at low temperatures.

In a statement, lead researcher Professor Martin Schröder from Nottingham University’s School of Chemistry said: “The unique defect structure that this new material shows can be correlated directly to its gas adsorption properties. Detailed analyses via structure determination and computational modelling have been critical in determining and rationalising the structure and function of this material.”

The entire study has been funded by the ERC Advanced Grant COORDSPACE and by an EPSRC Programme Grant ChemEnSus, which aims to use the application of coordination chemistry to provide innovative solutions for key issues around environmental and chemical sustainability. Chief among these are the potential applications for gas storage, sieving and purification, carbon capture, chemical reactivity, and sensing.

+ University of Nottingham

Via BBC News

Images: RDECOM