A. Rigamonti, C. X. Bezuidenhout, J. Perego, E. Montanari, A. Comotti and S. Bracco

Chem. Mater. 2026

Abstract

Pillared-layer metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) comprising triazolate and oxalate or organodicarboxylate linkers are emerging materials for selective CO₂ capture in large-scale applications. One key aspect to consider for industrial applications is the search for synthetic strategies that minimize the use of solvents, thereby reducing the environmental impact and improving scalability. Herein, a protocol that combines liquid-assisted mechanochemistry and incubation with a minimal amount of solvent was applied to produce both a triazolate-fumarate Zn-MOF and a MOF-polymer composite shaped into self-supporting cylindrical objects amenable to CO₂ capture even under humid conditions. The Zn-MOF exhibits the highest surface area and CO₂ adsorption capacity in this class of materials, and a CO₂/N₂ selectivity of 200 at 273 K. A 36 kJ/mol value of heat of adsorption was estimated by direct measurement of the heat exchanged upon stepwise CO₂ loading, in tandem with a CO₂ adsorption isotherm. Upon one hundred CO₂ adsorption/desorption cycles, the Zn-MOF exhibits remarkable cycling stability. Breakthrough experiments with CO₂/N₂ mixtures containing 5, 10, and 15% CO₂ unveiled selective CO₂ adsorption even in the presence of humidity (up to 15%) and full recovery of the composite sorption performance through solvent incubation. In-depth spectroscopic and diffractometric characterization of the activated material and its composite revealed the sophisticated and dynamic arrangement of pillars and layers within the framework. In situ powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) during CO₂ loading and unloading, combined with ab initio computational studies, enabled the determination of the preferred CO₂ adsorption sites within the framework.