Flexible metal-organic framework films for reversible low-pressure carbon capture and release

Transitioning metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) from laboratory-scale to carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture and storage applications (CCS) requires in-depth understanding of their adsorption properties and structural stability, especially for film assemblies. However, evaluating their performance is challenging, particularly under low or moderate CO₂ pressure conditions, which are key for cost and performance efficiency. Herein, we explore the low-pressure CO₂ uptake and release within flexible Zn-based MOF film structures with diverse ligand functionalities, employing quartz crystal microbalance, synchrotron radiation-based infrared spectromicroscopy and grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements. To investigate CO₂ adsorption and its interaction with Zn-MOF pores, we exploited the framework's flexibility by triggering structural changes and thus variations of the pore-environment using two stimuli, temperature and light. Results show considerable promise for stimuli-induced on-demand CO₂ capture and release at low pressures, demonstrating structural reversibility under near-ambient conditions and highlighting the potential of tailored MOF film structures in advancing green CCS-technologies.