A novel Co-based metal–organic framework (MOF) with the formula of {[Co3(BIBT)3(BTC)2(H2O)2]·solvents} n (JXUST-2, where JXUST denotes Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, BIBT = 4,7-bi­(1H-imidazol-1-yl)­benzo-[2,1,3]­thiadiazole, and H3BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid) has been solvothermally prepared, which takes 3D structure with a rare 3,4,6-c topology and contains intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Interestingly, the sensing investigations suggest that JXUST-2 could be considered as a multifunctional fluorescence sensor toward Fe3+, Cr3+, and Al3+ via a turn-on effect with good reusability and detection limits of 0.13, 0.10, and 0.10 μM, respectively. The turn-on effect of JXUST-2 could be ascribed to an absorbance caused enhancement (ACE) mechanism. Notably, JXUST-2 is the first turn-on MOF fluorescent sensor for Fe3+, Cr3+, and Al3+ simultaneously.

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The main issue related to the deployment of the amine-based absorption process for CO capture from flue gas is its intensive energy penalty. Therefore, this study screened a novel biphasic solvent, comprising a primary amine e.g., triethylenetetramine (TETA) and a tertiary amine e.g., N, N-dimethylcyclohexylamine (DMCA), to reduce the energy consumption. The TETA-DMCA blend exhibited high cyclic capacity of CO absorption, favorable phase separation behavior, and low regeneration heat. Kinetic analysis showed that the gas- and liquid-side mass transfer resistances were comparable in the lean solution of TETA-DMCA at 40 °C, whereas the liquid-side mass transfer resistance became dominant in the rich solution. The rate of CO absorption into TETA-DMCA (4 M, 1:3) solution was comparable to 5 M benchmark monoethanolamine (MEA) solution. Based on a preliminary estimation, the regeneration heat with TETA-DMCA could be reduced by approximately 40% compared with that of MEA. C NMR analysis revealed that the CO absorption into TETA-DMCA was initiated by the reaction between CO and TETA via the zwitterion mechanism, and DMCA served as a CO sinker to regenerate TETA, resulting in the transfer of DMCA from the upper to lower phase. The proposed TETA-DMCA solvent may be a suitable candidate for CO capture.

The biphasic solvent-based absorption process has been regarded as a promising alternative to the monoethanolamine (MEA)-based process because of its high absorption capacity, phase separation behavior, and potential for conserving energy for CO 2 capture. A trade-off between the absorption capacity and phase separation ratio is critical for developing an advanced biphasic solvent. Typically, water content in the biphasic solvent can be manipulated to tune the phase separation behavior. To explore the relationship between water content and phase separation behavior, an inert organic solvent, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, was added as a substitute for water in a biphasic solvent, specifically a triethylenetetramine (TETA) and 2-(diethylamino)ethanol (DEEA) blend. Moreover, the water content−kinetics and thermodynamics relationships were also evaluated. Experimental results revealed that reducing the water content was beneficial for phase separation but adverse for adsorption capacity. Kinetic analysis indicated that the water content did not significantly affect the rate of CO 2 absorption at a rich loading. Furthermore, the regeneration heat decreased with the water content. The regeneration heat of TETA−DEEA with a water content of 20 wt % was almost 50% less than that of MEA solution. 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis revealed that the water content did not affect the reaction mechanism between CO 2 and amines.

A Zn II -based metal−organic framework (MOF) with a rare tcj topology has been solvothermally synthesized and displays relatively good thermal and chemical stabilities. Interestingly, the MOF can sensitively and selectively sense acetylacetone (acac) via a fluorescence enhancement effect with a detection limit of 0.10 ppm and good reusability, which demonstrates the first example of a MOF-based turn-on fluorescent sensor for acac.

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By using GdO, propanedioic acid (Hpda) and oxalic acid (Hox), a new Gd-based metal-organic framework (MOF) [Gd(pda)(ox)(HO)] (1) has been successfully constructed and structurally characterized. Interestingly, temperature- and vapor-induced reversible single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformations occurred and two new MOFs, namely [Gd(pda)(ox)(HO)] (1a) and [Gd(pda)(ox)] (1b), have been obtained. Complex 1 displays a two-dimensional (2D) layer structure composed of zigzag [Gd(pda)] chains and it could also be made up of numerous Gd macrocycles. Thermal dehydration leads to more complicated three-dimensional (3D) 'pillar-layer' structures (1a and 1b) with the same coordination mode of pda anions. Magnetic studies suggest the presence of ferromagnetic couplings between the intrachain or intralayer Gd ions and large magnetocaloric effects (MCEs) with -ΔS = 45.0 J kg K (1), 46.1 J kg K (1a) and 46.8 J kg K (1b) under a 7 T applied field. Therefore, the interest of 'robust magnetocaloric MOFs' is now extended to compounds showing weak ferromagnetic couplings and hence having better magnetocaloric performances for small field changes.