Synthesis, crystal structure and adsorption property of a microporous Cd(II) metal–organic framework based on 1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline

Abstract A microporous metal–organic framework (MOF), [Cd(IP)Cl] n ( 1 , HIP = 1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline), with 1D square channels along the c axis was constructed through the solvothermal method. Because of the polar nitrogen atoms and the π-electron-rich ligand, activated MOF 1a presents a strong interaction with CO 2 , showing selective capture of CO 2 from a mixture of CO 2 /N 2 . Additionally, MOF 1a also shows significant selective capture of CO 2 from CO 2 /CH 4 and CO 2 /C 2 H 4 mixtures due to the sieving effect of the 1D channels. The column breakthrough experiment results further confirmed that microporous MOF 1a could be used as a potential porous material for selective CO 2 adsorption.