Inspired
by the structure of carbonic anhydrase, we developed a
robust ultramicroporous lanthanide metal–organic framework
(MOF) platform (NKMOF-3-Ln), which possesses a porous
pocket to selectively bind with CO2 at ambient conditions.
Notably, CO2 molecules can be precisely observed in the
single-crystal structure of NKMOF-3-Ln. Highly ordered
CO2 molecules can strongly interact with the framework
via electrostatic interaction of nitrates. We found that the CO2 adsorption capacity and binding energy were gradually enhanced
as lanthanide contraction. The strong CO2 binding affinity
endows NKMOF-3-Ln with excellent CO2 separation
performance, which is verified by experimental breakthrough results.
Moreover, because of the specific binding affinity of CO2, NKMOF-3-Eu showed a fluorescence response to CO2.
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