Stability of Iodine Species Trapped in Titanium‐Based MOFs: MIL‐125 and MIL‐125_NH₂

Abstract

Two titanium‐based MOFs MIL‐125 and MIL‐125_NH2 are synthesized and characterized using high‐temperature powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), N2 sorption, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Stable up to 300 °C, both compounds exhibited similar specific surface areas (SSA) values (1207 and 1099 m2 g−1 for MIL‐125 and MIL‐125_NH2, respectively). EPR signals of Ti3+ are observed in both, whith MIL‐125_NH2 also showing ─NH2●+ signatures. Both MOFs efficiently adsorbed iodine in continuous gas flow over five days, with MIL‐125 trapping 1.9 g.g−1 and MIL‐125_NH2 trapping 1.6 g.g−1. MIL‐125_NH2 exhibited faster adsorption kinetics due to its smaller band gap (2.5 against 3.6 eV). In situ Raman spectroscopy conducted during iodine adsorption revealed signal evolution from “free” I2 to “perturbed” I2, and I3−. TGA and in situ Raman desorption experiments showed that ─NH2 groups improved the stabilization of I3− due to an electrostatic interaction with NH2●+BDC radicals. The Albery model indicated longer lifetimes for iodine desorption in I2@MIL‐125_NH2, attributed to a rate‐limiting step due to stronger interaction between the anionic iodine species and the ─NH2●+ radicals. This study underscores how MOFs with efficient charge separation and hole‐stabilizer functional groups enhance iodine stability at higher temperatures.