Rapid microwave synthesis of sustainable magnetic framework composites of UTSA-16(Zn) with Fe3O4 nanoparticles for efficient CO2 capture

Woodliffe, John Luke; Johnston, Amy-Louise; Fay, Michael; Ferrari, Rebecca; Gomes, Rachel L.; Lester, Ed; Ahmed, Ifty; Laybourn, Andrea

Abstract

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown excellent potential for carbon dioxide capture applications due to their high sorption capacities and selectivities. However, MOFs are typically thermally insulating, and so thermal CO2 regeneration is challenging, especially on the large scales required in industry. This limitation can be overcome by inclusion of magnetic nanoparticles within the MOF structure, enabling rapid and energy efficient CO2 regeneration using induction heating. To this end we have developed novel magnetic framework composites (MFCs) comprised of MOF UTSA-16(Zn) (UTSA: University of Texas at San Antonio, a Zn-based MOF with citrate linkers) and Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Our work also addresses the sustainability and scalability challenges faced by MFCs required for industrial application, considering the use of inexpensive and widely-available materials. Herein we report a two-step procedure for preparing the MFCs. Firstly, a scalable single-step continuous hydrothermal synthesis method is used to produce highly pure, stable, and crystalline citrate-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (62% yield). The nanoparticles exhibit a uniform particle size (19 ± 11 nm) and a very high saturation magnetisation (78 emu g−1) compared with previously published citrate-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Next, various concentrations (2.6-18.7 wt%) of these nanoparticles were incorporated into UTSA-16(Zn) via a rapid microwave-assisted direct-growth strategy (10 min) to form the MFCs (81-83% yield). The MFCs demonstrate high CO2 adsorption capacities (2.8-3.3 mmol g−1) and recyclability. In addition, the MFCs heat rapidly in an applied magnetic field for CO2 release, reaching regeneration temperatures in remarkably short times (e.g. 60 °C in 8 seconds). The MFCs developed in this work combine strong CO2 adsorption profiles and substantial regeneration heating capabilities, whilst being produced in a scalable and sustainable manner. The methods developed to prepare MFCs herein are also applicable to other MOFs, opening routes for a variety of sustainable MFCs to deliver impact for a range of applications across carbon capture and triggered release of other guest molecules.

Citation

Woodliffe, J. L., Johnston, A.-L., Fay, M., Ferrari, R., Gomes, R. L., Lester, E., …Laybourn, A. (2023). Rapid microwave synthesis of sustainable magnetic framework composites of UTSA-16(Zn) with Fe3O4 nanoparticles for efficient CO2 capture. Materials Advances, 4(11), 5838-5849. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00351E

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 6, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Oct 10, 2023
• Publication Date: Nov 21, 2023
• Deposit Date: Oct 11, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 11, 2023
• Journal: Materials Advances
• Electronic ISSN: 2633-5409
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 5838-5849
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00351E
• Keywords: metal-organic framework; magnetite; magnetic nanoparticles; citrate coating; induction heating; MISA; carbon capture; hydrothermal; continuous-flow; adsorption
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/25806816
• Publisher URL: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2023/ma/d3ma00351e