Co-pelletization of a zirconium-based metal-organic framework (UiO-66) with polymer nanofibers for improved useable capacity in hydrogen storage

We report on a concept of co-pelletization using mechanically robust hydroxylated UiO-66 to develop metal-organic framework (MOF) monolith that contains 5 wt% electrospun polymer nanofibers, and consists an architecture with alternating layers MOF nanofiber mats. The polymers choice were the microporous Polymer Intrinsic Microporosity (PIM-1) non-porous polyacrylonitrile (PAN). Co-pelletized UiO-66/PIM-1 UiO-66/PAN monoliths retain no less than 85% porosity obtained in pristine powder pelletized UiO-66. composition pore size distribution co-pelletized is significantly different forms, forms showing 90% apertures micropore region both UiO-66/nanofiber composite micro-mesoporous distribution. improved useable H2 capacities comparison under isothermal pressure swing conditions. constitutes highest gravimetric (and volumetric) at 2.3 (32 g L?1) 1.8 (12 1.9 (29 obtainable pellet, respectively. monolith, however, shows reduced surface area by up 50% UiO-66, but its volume only 13% As result, total capacity crucially volumetric higher for powder. strategy provides simple method generating hierarchical into initially highly without changing structure through complex chemical modifications. offer improvements typically low MOFs, open new opportunities towards achieving system-level storage targets.