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With the worldwide demand for refrigeration and cooling expected to triple, it is increasingly important to search for alternative energy resources to drive refrigeration cycles with reduced electricity consumption. Recently, adsorption cooling has gained increased attention since energy reallocation in such systems is based on gas adsorption/desorption, which can be driven by waste/natural heat sources. Eco-friendly sorption-based cooling relies on the cyclic transfer of refrigerant gas from a high to low energy state by the pseudocompression effect resulting from adsorption and desorption. The driving force for energy transfer relies on heat rather than electricity. The performance of a sorption chiller is primarily influenced by this cyclic sorption behavior, which is characterized as the working capacity of the porous sorbent. Thus, increases in this working capacity directly translate to a more compact and efficient cooling system. However, a lack of highly effective sorbent/refrigerant pairs lowers cooling performance and therefore has limited applicability. To this end, synthetic metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic polymers (COPs) possess higher porosity and greater tunability leading to more substantial potential benefits for adsorption, compared to traditional sorbent materials. Similarly, hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants have more favorable applicability given the ease of operation above atmospheric pressures due to suitable saturated vapor pressures and boiling points. For these reasons, our work focuses on an ongoing strategy to promote sorption cooling via improvements in the sorbent/refrigerant pair. Specifically, we target the interaction of hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants with MOF/COP materials at a molecular level by interpreting the host–guest chemistry and the role of framework pore topology. These molecular-level differences translate to cooling performance, which is described herein. These strategies include engineering framework porosity (i.e., pore size, pore volume) by using elongated organic linkers and stereochemistry control during synthesis; manipulating the sorbate/sorbent interaction by introducing functional moieties or unsaturated metal centers to enhance working capacities in narrow pressure ranges; varying pore topology/morphology to impact adsorption isotherm behavior; and leveraging defective sites within the frameworks to further enhance adsorption capability. This atomic level understanding of sorbate–sorbent interactions is conducted using various in situ experimental techniques such as synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and direct sorption energies determinization with calorimetry. Moreover, the experimentally studied interactions and the corresponding adsorption mechanism are corroborated by computational studies using density functional theory (DFT) and grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations. Using this approach, we have made strides toward engineering designed frameworks with precise molecular control to target refrigerant molecules and thereby enhance the performance of desired working pairs for sorption-based cooling.

Although traditional commercially available porous carbon–fluorocarbon working pairs have shown promising applicability for adsorption cooling, advancements in engineered carbons may further improve the performance. Moreover, insights into structure–property relationships that target higher sorption capacities within these synthesized carbons may guide such materials’ future design. We utilized hierarchically porous carbons (HPCs), synthesized with colossal microporous and mesoporous content characterized by high surface areas (up to 2689 m2/g) and pore volume values (up to 10.31 cm3/g) toward fluorocarbon R134a adsorption. This unique pore topology leads to exceptional R134a uptake, ∼250 wt %, outperforming the highest uptake carbon material to date, Maxsorb III (∼220 wt %). Material characterizations reveal that the outstanding R134a capacity may be attributed to textural properties and oxygen-terminated functional groups more than graphitization of the material. Most importantly, HPCs are efficiently utilized in a two-bed model chiller device, where the performance shows excellent working capacity (105 wt %, ∼2 times the value of reported carbon materials/R134a). Fluorocarbon adsorption on HPCs also displays fast kinetics (equilibrium time: ∼2 min) mainly driven by physical adsorption (Qst: ∼27 kJ/mol), characteristic of swiftly reversible behavior adsorption–desorption behaviors. This work provides a fundamental understanding of the applicability of HPCs/R134a working pair for adsorption cooling.

We used IR and XRD, with supporting theoretical calculations, to investigate the swelling behavior of Na+-, NH4+-, and Cs+-montmorillonites (SWy-2) in supercritical fluid mixtures of H2O, CO2, and CH4. Building on our prior work with Na-clay that demonstrated that H2O facilitated CO2intercalation at relatively low RH, here we show that increasing CO2/CH4ratios promote H2O intercalation and swelling of the Na-clay at progressively lower RH. In contrast to the Na-clay, CO2intercalated and expanded the Cs-clay even in the absence of H2O, while increasing fluid CO2/CH4ratios inhibited H2O intercalation. The NH4-clay displayed intermediate behavior. By comparing changes in the HOH bending vibration of H2O intercalated in the Cs-, NH4-, and Na-clays, we posit that CO2facilitated expansion of the Na-clay by participating in outer-sphere solvation of Na+and by disrupting the H-bond network of intercalated H2O. In no case did the pure CH4fluid induce expansion. Our experimental data can benchmark modeling studies aimed at predicting clay expansion in humidified fluids with varying ratios of CO2and CH4in real reservoir systems with implications for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery and CO2storage in subsurface environments.

In 2013, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory led a geologic carbon sequestration field demonstration where ∼1000 tonnes of CO2was injected into several deep Columbia River Basalt zones near Wallula, Washington. Rock core samples extracted from the injection zone two years after CO2injection revealed nascent carbonate mineralization that was qualitatively consistent with expectations from laboratory experiments and reactive transport modeling. Here, we report on a new detailed analysis of the 2012 pre-injection and 2015 post-injection hydrologic tests that capitalizes on the difference in fluid properties between scCO2and water to assess changes in near-field, wellbore, and reservoir conditions that are apparent approximately two years following the end of injection. This comparative hydrologic test analysis method provides a new way to quantify the amount of injected CO2that was mineralized in the field test. Modeling results indicate that approximately 60% of the injected CO2was sequestered via mineralization within two years, with the resulting carbonates occupying ∼4% of the available reservoir pore space. The method presented here provides a new monitoring tool to assess the fate of CO2injected into chemically reactive basalt formations but could also be adapted for long-term monitoring and verification within more traditional subsurface carbon storage reservoirs.

Transition-metal pentacyanonitrosylferrates, commonly known as nitroprussides, have a long and documented history. Here, we synthesize cobalt and nickel nitroprussides (NPs) in order to probe their use as sorbents for water and fluorocarbon uptake for potential water harvesting and cooling applications. These NPs show stable and reversible equilibrium sorption isotherms at room temperature with peak uptake values of ∼40 wt % for H2O and ∼30 wt % for fluorocarbon R134a. At water harvesting conditions, working capacities of ∼19 wt % were obtained for NPs. At sorption cooling conditions, the working capacities favored nickel NP. Given the advantages of an easy, inexpensive, and scalable synthesis, this study demonstrates the potential for using nitroprussides for future water harvesting and adsorption cooling systems.

The growing global concerns to public health from human exposure to perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) require rapid, sensitive, in situdetection where current, state-of-the-art techniques are yet to adequately meet sensitivity standards of the real world. This work presents, for the first time, a synergistic approach for the targeted affinity-based capture of PFOS using a porous sorbent probe that enhances detection sensitivity by embedding it on a microfluidic platform. This novel sorbent-containing platform functions as an electrochemical sensor to directly measure PFOS concentration through a proportional change in electrical current (increase in impedance). The extremely high surface area and pore volume of mesoporous metal–organic framework (MOF) Cr-MIL-101 is used as the probe for targeted PFOS capture based on the affinity of the chromium center toward both the fluorine tail groups as well as the sulfonate functionalities as demonstrated by spectroscopic (NMR and XPS) and microscopic (TEM) studies. Answering the need for an ultrasensitive PFOS detection technique, we are embedding the MOF capture probes inside a microfluidic channel, sandwiched between interdigitated microelectrodes (IDμE). The nanoporous geometry, along with interdigitated microelectrodes, increases the signal-to-noise ratio tremendously. Further, the ability of the capture probes to interact with the PFOS at the molecular level and effectively transduce that response electrochemically has allowed us achieve a significant increase in sensitivity. The PFOS detection limit of 0.5 ng/L is unprecedented for in situanalytical PFOS sensors and comparable to quantification limits achieved using state-of-the-art ex situtechniques.

The rapid growth in the global energy demand for space cooling requires the development of more efficient environmental chillers for which adsorption-based cooling systems can be utilized. Here, in this contribution, we explore sorbents for chiller use via a pore-engineering concept to construct analogs of the 1-dimensional pore metal–organic framework MOF-74 by using elongated organic linkers and stereochemistry control. The prepared pore-engineered MOFs show remarkable equilibrium adsorption of the selected fluorocarbon refrigerant that is translated to a modeled adsorption-based refrigeration cycle. To probe molecular level interactions at the origin of these unique adsorption properties for this series of Ni-MOFs, we combined in situ synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, neutron powder diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared techniques, and molecular simulations. Our results reveal the coordination of fluorine (of CH2F in R134a) to the nickel(II) open metal centers at low pressures for each Ni-MOF analog and provide insight into the pore filling mechanism for the full range of the adsorption isotherms. The newly designed Ni-TPM demonstrates exceptional R134a adsorption uptake compared to its parent microporous Ni-MOF-74 due to larger engineered pore size/volume. The application of this adsorption performance toward established chiller conditions yields a working capacity increase for Ni-TPM of about 400% from that of Ni-MOF-74, which combined with kinetics directly correlates to both a higher coefficient of performance and a higher average cooling capacity generated in a modeled chiller.

The abundance of novel metal–organic framework (MOF) materials continues to increase as more applications are discovered for these highly porous, well-ordered crystalline structures. The simplicity of constituents allows for the design of new MOFs with virtue of functionality and pore topology toward target adsorbates. However, the fundamental understanding of how these frameworks evolve during nucleation and growth is mostly limited to speculation from simulation studies. In this effort, we utilize a unique vacuum compatible system for analysis at the liquid vacuum interface (SALVI) microfluidic interface to analyze the formation and evolution of the benchmark MOF-74 framework using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Principal component analysis of the SIMS mass spectra, together with ex situ electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffractometry, and porosimetry, provides new insights into the structural growth, metal–oxide cluster formation, and aging process of Zn-MOF-74. Samples collected over a range of synthesis times and analyzed closely with in situ ToF-SIMS, transmission electron microscopy, and gas adsorption studies verify the developing pore structure during the aging process.

The dynamics and reactivity of nanoconfined fluids play critical roles across a wide range of environmental and technological systems, though reaction mechanisms and kinetics are not well understood. The carbonation kinetics of forsterite (Mg2SiO4) exposed to 90 atm supercritical carbon dioxide at 35–65 °C and 85–100% relative humidity (RH) was monitored with in situX-ray diffraction, and partner molecular dynamics simulations were used to describe the free energy landscape of Mg2+adsorption and diffusion on forsterite surfaces covered in water films 3–10 monolayers thick. The collective findings reveal how decreasing the water film thickness by ∼1.4 monolayers, from ∼0.92 to ∼0.64 nm, inhibited reaction rates by up to 97%, promoted anhydrous Mg-carbonate (magnesite, MgCO3) precipitation, and more than doubled the apparent activation energy of carbonation. The transport simulations suggest that four monolayers are required to enable sufficiently facile Mg2+diffusion, helping explain previously observed water film thickness-dependent reactivity thresholds.

One approach to reduce increasing concentrations of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) involves the capture of PFAS from aqueous media using porous materials. The use of highly porous, tunable metal organic framework (MOF) materials is appealing for targeted liquid phase sorption. In this work, we demonstrate the excellent capture of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) using both the chromium and iron analogs of the MIL-101 framework. Experimental characterization of PFOS uptake reveals unique differences in sorption properties between these two analogs, providing key implications for future PFOS sorbent design. Specifically, STEM-EDS and IR spectroscopy show definitive proof of sorption. Furthermore, XPS analysis shows evidence of a strong interaction between sulfur atoms of the polar headgroup of PFOS and the metal center of the framework in addition to the fluorinated nonpolar tail. Additionally, in situ 19F NMR reveals higher PFOS affinity for Cr-MIL-101 versus Fe-MIL-101 based on sorption kinetics. Surprisingly, at these relatively high PFOS concentrations, activated acetylene black carbon is severely outperformed by both MOFs.

Efficient regeneration of organolithium compounds is a challenging aspect in the process of novel organometathetical catalytic cycles. One of these catalytic cycles is a newly suggested method for Mg production from seawater that capitalizes on the rich chemistry of Grignard reagents. The proposed three-step catalytic cycle with Cp2MClLcatalyst (M= Ti, Zr; L= select organic ligands) requires the regeneration of nBuLi from Li(s), butene, and H2. The potential of this approach is evaluated with density functional theory-based molecular simulations. The results reveal that the high affinity of Li toward Cl and N results in the formation of alkanes, and the strong coupling between the catalyst and BuLi leads to catalyst deactivation. To improve its catalytic performance, we proposed the use of a diamine cocatalyst and a modified catalyst with a ligand that does not contain N, which would help release BuLi from the vicinity of the catalytic center. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations at 298 K in explicit solvent (THF) were used to estimate the Gibbs free energetics and equilibrium constants obtained from the vibrational density of states using velocity autocorrelation functions. The results show a marked improvement in the free energetics with lower barriers toward the completion of the catalytic cycle and suppression of deactivation channels.

We have studied the mechanism of intercalation and methane adsorption from a H2O/CH4/CO2mixture on a prototypical swelling shale component, Ca–montmorillonite. We employed ab initiomolecular dynamics simulations at 323 K and 90 bar to obtain molecular level information on adsorption energetics, speciation, and structural and thermodynamic properties. Interaction of CH4with surface Lewis acidic sites (Ca2+, surface OH) results in large induced dipoles (∼1 D) that lead to relatively strong adsorption energies compared to interactions of the normally apolar CH4that level off once a CH4layer is formed. Intercalated CH4, also exhibits large induced dipoles at lower hydration levels, when the interaction with Ca2+cations are less hindered. CO2displaces CH4in the coordination sphere of the cations (in the interlayer) or on the surface, thereby driving CH4extraction. Our simulations indicate that there is an optimal pressure range (∼70–90 bar) where scCO2-facilitated CH4extraction will be maximized.

Adsorption isotherms of pure gases present in flue gas including CO2, N2, SO2, NO, H2S, and water were studied using prussian blues of chemical formula M3[Co(CN)6]2·nH2O (M = Co, Zn) using an HPVA-100 volumetric gas analyzer and other spectroscopic methods. All the samples were characterized, and the microporous nature of the samples was studied using the BET isotherm. These materials adsorbed 8−10 wt % of CO2at room temperature and 1 bar of pressure with heats of adsorption ranging from 200 to 300 Btu/lb of CO2, which is lower than monoethanolamine (750 Btu/lb of CO2) at the same mass loading. At high pressures (30 bar and 298 K), these materials adsorbed approximately 20−30 wt % of CO2, which corresponds to 3 to 5 molecules of CO2per formula unit. Similar gas adsorption isotherms for SO2, H2S, and NO were collected using a specially constructed volumetric gas analyzer. At close to 1 bar of equilibrium pressure, these materials sorb around 2.5, 2.7, and 1.2 mmol/g of SO2, H2S, and NO. In particular, the uptake of SO2and H2S in Co3[Co(CN)6]2is quite significant since it sorbs around 10 and 4.5 wt % at 0.1 bar of pressure. The stability of prussian blues before and after trace gases was studied using a powder X-ray diffraction instrument, which confirms these materials do not decompose after exposure to trace gases.

The low-frequency (100–1250 Hz) acoustic properties of metal–organic framework (MOF) materials were examined in impedance tube experiments. The anomalously high sound transmission loss of HKUST-1, FeBTC, and MIL-53(Al) quantitatively demonstrated that these prototypical MOFs are absorptive acoustic metamaterials. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of MOFs that have been demonstrated to be acoustic metamaterials. Low-frequency acoustic dampening by subwavelength MOF metamaterials is likely due to sound dissipation and absorption facilitated by multiple internal reflections within the microporous framework structure. Modification of MIL-53(Al) with flexible organic linkers clarified that acoustic signatures of the MOFs may be tailored to add or alter certain diagnostic acoustic signatures. These results may be applied to the rational design of lightweight sound-insulating construction materials and acoustic contrast agents for subsurface mapping and monitoring applications at low frequency (100–1250 Hz).

Alkali-exchanged SSZ-13 adsorbents were investigated for their applicability in separating N2from CO2in flue gas streams using a dynamic breakthrough method. In contrast to IAST calculations based on equilibrium isotherms, K+exchanged SSZ-13 was found to yield the best N2productivity, comparable to Ni-MOF-74, under dynamic conditions where diffusion properties play a significant role. This was attributed to the selective, partial blockage of access to the chabazite cavities, enhancing the separation potential in a 15/85 CO2/N2binary gas mixture.

Layered aluminosilicates play a dominant role in the mechanical and gas storage properties of the subsurface, are used in diverse industrial applications, and serve as model materials for understanding solvent–ion-support systems. Although expansion in the presence of H2O is well-known to be systematically correlated with the hydration free energy of the interlayer cation, particularly in environments dominated by nonpolar solvents (i.e., CO2), uptake into the interlayer is not well-understood. Using novel high-pressure capabilities, we investigated the interaction of dry supercritical CO2with Na-, NH4-, and Cs-saturated montmorillonite, comparing results with predictions from molecular dynamics simulations. Despite the known trend in H2O and that cation solvation energies in CO2suggest a stronger interaction with Na, both the NH4- and Cs-clays readily absorbed CO2and expanded, while the Na-clay did not. The apparent inertness of the Na-clay was not due to kinetics, as experiments seeking a stable expanded state showed that none exists. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed a large endothermicity to CO2intercalation in the Na-clay but little or no energy barrier for the NH4- and Cs-clays. Indeed, the combination of experiment and theory clearly demonstrate that CO2intercalation of Na-montmorillonite clays is prohibited in the absence of H2O. Consequently, we have shown for the first time that in the presence of a low dielectric constant, gas swelling depends more on the strength of the interaction between the interlayer cation and aluminosilicate sheets and less on that with solvent. The finding suggests a distinct regime in layered aluminosilicate swelling behavior triggered by low solvent polarizability, with important implications in geomechanics, storage, and retention of volatile gases, and across industrial uses in gelling, decoloring, heterogeneous catalysis, and semipermeable reactive barriers.

It is important to capture carbon dioxide from flue gas, which is considered one of to be the main cause of global warming. CO2/N2separation by novel adsorbents is a promising method for reducing CO2emission. Meanwhile, water effects on CO2adsorption and CO2/N2selectivity is critical to enable utilization of the adsorbents in practical applications. In this paper, Ni/DOBDC (Ni-MOF-74 or CPO-27-Ni) was synthesized through a solvothermal reaction, and the pellet sample was used in a fixed-bed CO2/N2breakthrough study with and without H2O. The Ni/DOBDC pellet has a high CO2capacity of 3.74 mol/kg at 0.15 bar and a high CO2/N2selectivity of 38, which is much higher than those of reported metal–organic frameworks and zeolites under dry conditions. Trace amounts of water can affect CO2adsorption capacity as well as CO2/N2selectivity for the Ni/DOBDC. However, Ni/DOBDC can retain a significant CO2capacity of 2.2 mol/kg and a CO2/N2selectivity of 22 at 0.15 bar CO2with 3% RH water. These results indicate a promising future for use of the Ni/DOBDC in capturing CO2from flue gas.

Spin-polarized density functional theory (DFT) calculations and periodic slab models were used to study the reactive pathways leading to corrosion products on the low-index (100) surface of iron. We determined the binding energies of CO2and the barrier to decomposition of adsorbed CO2to O + CO, as well as to the formation of adsorbed CO32−and H2CO3on the Fe(100) surface. The barriers of these pathways were determined with nudged elastic band (NEB) calculations. Short trajectories with DFT-based dynamics were employed to identify the most important species. These simulations (up to 0.5 ML coverage) show that CO2is spontaneously activated and can bind with two or all three atoms assuming bent configurations strongly reminiscent of the radical CO2−. This spontaneous activation of CO2is possible through charge rearrangement of the slab density. The CO2decomposition to O + CO has a barrier of 5.0 kcal/mol. The subsequent formation of CO32−by reaction with an incoming CO2is strongly favored thermodynamically. Interaction of H2O with the adsorbed CO2forms a loosely bound complex that leads to the formation of surface-bound carbonic acid, with a barrier of approximately 35.0 kcal/mol.

Injecting fluids into underground geologic structures is crucial for the development of long-term strategies for managing captured carbon and facilitating sustainable energy extraction operations. We have previously reported that the injection of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) into the subsurface can enhance seismic monitoring tools to track fluids and map complex structures, reduce risk, and verify containment in carbon storage reservoirs because of their absorption capacity of low-frequency seismic waves. Here, we demonstrate that water-based Cr/Zn/Zr MOF colloidal suspensions (nanofluids) are multimodal geophysical contrast agents that enhance near-wellbore logging tools. Based on experimental fluid-only measurements, MIL-101(Cr), ZIF-8, and UiO-66 nanofluids have distinct complex conductivity and/or low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signatures that are relevant to field-deployed technologies, implying the potential to enhance near-wellbore monitoring of CO2injection and associated processes with downhole logging tools. Small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering characterization of ∼0.5 wt % MIL-101(Cr) suspensions confirmed phase stability and provided insight into the fractal nature of colloidal nanoparticles. Finally, low-field (2 MHz) NMR measurements of MIL-101(Cr) nanofluid injection into a prototypical Berea sandstone demonstrate how paramagnetic high-surface area MOFs may dominate the relaxation times of hydrogen-bearing fluids in porous geologic matrices, enhancing the mapping of near-surface and near-wellbore transport pathways and advancing sustainable subsurface energy technologies.

Mitigating climate change requires transformational advances for carbon dioxide removal, including geologic carbon sequestration in reactive subsurface environments. The Wallula Basalt Carbon Storage Pilot Project demonstrated that CO2injected into >800 m deep Columbia River Basalt Group flow top reservoirs mineralizes on month-year timescales. Herein, we present new optical petrography, micro-computed X-ray tomography, and electron microscopy results obtained from sidewall cores collected two years after CO2injection. As no other anthropogenic carbonates from geologic carbon storage field studies have been recovered, this world-unique sample suite provides unparalleled insight for subsurface carbon mineralization products and paragenesis. Chemically zoned nodules with Ca/Mn-rich cores and Fe-dominant outer rims are prominent examples of the neoformed carbonate assemblages with ankerite–siderite compositions and exotic divalent cation correlations. Paragenetic insights for the timing of aragonite, silica, and fibrous zeolites are clarified based on mineral texture and spatial relationships, along with time-resolved downhole fluid sampling. Collectively, these results clarify the mineralogy, chemistry, and paragenesis of carbon mineralization, providing insight into the ultimate fate and transport of CO2in reactive mafic–ultramafic reservoirs.

Adsorption isotherms of pure gases present in flue gas including CO2, N2, SO2, NO, H2S, and H2O are measured for M3[Co(CN)6]2·nH2O (M: Co, Zn).