Efficient capture and storage of ammonia in robust aluminium-based metal-organic frameworks

Abstract

Porous sorbents capable of high ammonia (NH3) uptake capacities are of great interest for ammonia storage for industry, as well as for the environmental remediation of this toxic and corrosive gas. Here, NH3 adsorption is investigated in four robust aluminium-based metal–organic frameworks, and in situ neutron powder diffraction, synchrotron IR micro-spectroscopy and 27Al solid-state NMR studies show that the pore geometries, framework rigidity, and nature of the host–guest binding sites together dictate the high NH3 capture and storage capacity.