High Volumetric Hydrogen Adsorption in a Porous Anthracene-Decorated Metal–Organic Framework

Abstract

We report an unprecedented ligand-based binding domain for D ₂ within a porous metal–organic framework (MOF) material as confirmed by neutron powder diffraction studies of D ₂-loaded MFM-132a. A tight pocket of 6 Å diameter is formed by the close packing of three anthracene panels, and it is here rather than the open metal sites where D ₂ binds preferentially. As a result, MFM-132a shows exceptional volumetric hydrogen adsorption (52 g L ^–1 at 60 bar and 77 K) and the highest density of adsorbed H ₂ within its pores among all the porous materials reported to date under the same conditions. This work points to a new direction for H ₂ storage in porous materials using polyaromatic ligand-based sites.

Abstract

The anthracene-functionalized metal−organic framework MFM-132a shows exceptional volumetric hydrogen adsorption (52 g L ⁻¹ at 60 bar and 77 K) and the highest density of adsorbed H2 within its pores among all porous materials reported to date under the same conditions. Neutron powder diffraction studies reveal that a tight pocket of 6 Å diameter created by three close anthracene panels binds D2 preferentially over the open metal sites.