Like wringing out a sponge, a metal–organic framework loaded with structure‐changing light‐responsive groups can squeeze out captured CO2. Because of the groups being structurally integral, there is oscillation between native and excited states. Pairing with CO2 capture from coal‐based power generation could reduce the parasitic energy load of adsorbent regeneration.
Aging in super glassy polymers such as poly(trimethylsilylpropyne) (PTMSP), poly(4‐methyl‐2‐pentyne) (PMP), and polymers with intrinsic microporosity (PIM‐1) reduces gas permeabilities and limits their application as gas‐separation membranes. While super glassy polymers are initially very porous, and ultra‐permeable, they quickly pack into a denser phase becoming less porous and permeable. This age‐old problem has been solved by adding an ultraporous additive that maintains the low density, porous, initial stage of super glassy polymers through absorbing a portion of the polymer chains within its pores thereby holding the chains in their open position. This result is the first time that aging in super glassy polymers is inhibited whilst maintaining enhanced CO2 permeability for one year and improving CO2/N2 selectivity. This approach could allow super glassy polymers to be revisited for commercial application in gas separations.
The
Materials Genome is in action: the molecular codes for millions of
materials have been sequenced, predictive models have been developed,
and now the challenge of hydrogen storage is targeted. Renewably generated
hydrogen is an attractive transportation fuel with zero carbon emissions,
but its storage remains a significant challenge. Nanoporous adsorbents
have shown promising physical adsorption of hydrogen approaching targeted
capacities, but the scope of studies has remained limited. Here the
Nanoporous Materials Genome, containing over 850 000 materials,
is analyzed with a variety of computational tools to explore the limits
of hydrogen storage. Optimal features that maximize net capacity at
room temperature include pore sizes of around 6 Å and void fractions
of 0.1, while at cryogenic temperatures pore sizes of 10 Å and
void fractions of 0.5 are optimal. Our top candidates are found to
be commercially attractive as “cryo-adsorbents”, with
promising storage capacities at 77 K and 100 bar with 30% enhancement
to 40 g/L, a promising alternative to liquefaction at 20 K and compression
at 700 bar.
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