Highly CO2 selective pillar[n]arene-based supramolecular organic frameworks

Finding a cost-effective, environmental benign, economical and technologically viable way to selectively capture, storage and/or purify energy and light gases represents one of the most urgent needs from energetic, biological, and environmental standpoints. Two 3D low-density supramolecular organic frameworks (SOFs) with solution-processibility were constructed using low-cost and readily available synthetic macrocyclic compounds, namely pillar[5]arene (P5) and pillar[6]arene (P6), via strong O-H···O, C-H···O, C-H···π, π···π interactions. These SOFs offer unusual topology, interconnecting pores and extremely high selective CO2 capture and separation properties for multiple gas mixtures (e.g. 30/70 mixture of CO2/H2, up to 3733/1, 298 K), making them great promising candidates for practical gas separation of steam-methane re-former (SMR) off-gas, flue gas, natural gas, biogas, syngas, paraffin/olefin, etc.