article · Nature Communications
Porous materials generally adsorb guest molecules spontaneously, but releasing these trapped molecules normally demands external energy inputs. A new ionic hydrogen-bonded organic framework, built from guanidinium cations and borate anions and designated Gd-B, overcomes this limitation by reversibly and automatically adsorbing and releasing methanol under ambient conditions. This metastable material mimics the behaviour of combustible ice at room temperature and pressure. Upon exposure to ambient air, it spontaneously releases sixteen methanol molecules, representing 63.4 percent of its weight, through desorption combined with tetra-methyl borate hydrolysis. The original framework structure can be restored simply by re-exposing the material to methanol vapour or liquid. Additionally, four guest methanol molecules can be reversibly captured and released without altering the underlying crystal structure.
Conventional porous materials require significant energy input, typically heat, to release captured guest molecules. Demonstrating an organic framework that releases fuel molecules like methanol automatically at room temperature eliminates this energy demand. Mimicking combustible ice under ambient conditions offers a new mechanism for managing chemical storage, recovery, and release with minimal external intervention.
This early-stage research points towards prospective applications in alternative energy carriers and drug delivery systems. Potential end-users could include developers of clean energy storage solutions or advanced pharmaceutical formulation systems. However, because the study focuses on basic material synthesis and release mechanisms in a laboratory setting, practical commercial use remains at a fundamental, early stage of development.
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Abstract Adsorption of guest molecules by porous materials proceeds in a spontaneous exothermic way, whereas desorption usually requires external energy input as an endothermic process. Reducing such energy consumption makes great sense in practice. Here we report the reversible and automatic methanol (MeOH) adsorption/release in an ionic hydrogen-bonded organic framework (iHOF) constructed from guanidinium cation and borate anion ([B(OCH 3 ) 4 ] 3 [C(NH 2 ) 3 ] 4 Cl•4CH 3 OH, termed Gd-B) at ambient condition. The metastable Gd-B automatically releases all sixteen MeOH molecules (63.4 wt%) via desorption and tetra-methyl borate hydrolysis at ambient atmosphere and the structure can be recovered when re-exposed to MeOH vapor or liquid, mimicking combustible ice behavior but at ambient condition. Reversible capture/release of four guest MeOH molecules is also realized without destroying its crystal structure. The combustible Gd-B paves a way for exploring metastable iHOF materials as carrier for alternative energy source and drug delivery etc.
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16976-1
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