Magnesium sulfonyldibenzoates synthesis, structure, phase transformation and microscopic studies

Abstract

Metal-Organic Frameworks, or MOFs, are crystalline materials consisting of metal ions or clusters coordinated to often rigid or flexible organic linkers to form two- or three-dimensional structures. MOFs can be porous, and the voids within the MOFs can host other molecules such as solvents or gases. A current and newly explored area of MOFs involves the reaction of magnesium salts with different carboxylates. These specific MOFs can have good stability to adsorb and desorb gases at higher temperatures. Solvothermal synthesis is the method used to produce these frameworks; however other methods have been tested and reported. Also the syntheses can be environmentally friendly, using less harmful chemicals to produce the products, and require little to no work up considering the products contain almost no impurities. Once the frameworks are produced it is applicable that they be connected to a planar substrate for further commercial use. By using reactive seeding and other methods there are several different ways that MOFs can be attached to a support. The specific aim of this project is to develop novel magnesium metal-organic frameworks, characterize them and then test their adsorption properties for different types of gases.