Harvesting Water from Air with High-Capacity, Stable Furan-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks

We synthesized two isoreticular furan-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), MOF-LA2-1(furan) and MOF-LA2-2(furan) with rod-like secondary building units (SBUs) featuring 1D channels, as sorbents for atmospheric water harvesting (LA = long arm). These aluminum-based MOFs demonstrated a combination of high water uptake and stability, exhibiting working capacities of 0.41 and 0.48 g of water per g of MOF (under isobaric conditions of 1.70 kPa), respectively. Remarkably, both MOFs showed negligible loss in water uptake after 165 adsorption-desorption cycles. These working capacities rival those of MOF-LA2-1(pyrazole), which has a working capacity of 0.55 g of water per g of MOF. The current MOFs stand out for their high water stability as evidenced by 165 cycles of water uptake and release. MOF-LA2-2(furan) is the first aluminum MOF to employ a double 'long arm' extension strategy, confirmed through single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). The MOFs were synthesized using a straightforward synthesis route. This study offers valuable insights into designing durable, water-stable MOFs and underscores their potential for efficient water harvesting.