Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The search for new materials capable of molecular recognition remains an ongoing challenge. In particular, structural isomers are in demand due to nearly identical physicochemical properties. Here, we report a crystalline, flexible, hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF), DUT-226, synthesized from a carbazole-based tetracarboxylic acid. It exhibits permanent microporosity with a BET area of 1474 m2 g–1, specific pore volume of 0.63 cm3 g–1, and a pore-limiting diameter of 12 Å. DUT-226 is able to discriminate among butanol isomers in the vapor phase based on their adsorption capacities. Vapor adsorption experiments at 298 K reveal an isomer-dependent adsorption capacity trend, whereas the adsorption capacity is significant for n-butanol and almost negligible for iso-butanol. Such differences in adsorption could be attributed to the selective solid-state phase transitions of DUT-226 in the presence of different butanol isomers. These results establish DUT-226 as the first HOF material potentially capable of molecular recognition of alcohol isomers.
Source: ACS Materials Letters
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
OpenAlex ID: W7225346938