Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Metal-Organic Frameworks for Gas Separation Applications

Thesis Abstract

Abstract
The demand for efficient gas separation technologies has led to extensive research into novel materials with unique properties. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising candidates due to their tunable structures and high surface areas. This thesis focuses on the synthesis and characterization of novel MOFs for gas separation applications. The aim is to design MOFs with enhanced gas adsorption and selectivity properties to address the challenges in separating various gas mixtures. The first part of this study involves the synthesis of MOFs using different metal ions and organic linkers. Various synthesis methods, including solvothermal and hydrothermal techniques, are employed to control the formation of crystalline MOF structures. Characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements are used to analyze the structural properties and surface areas of the synthesized MOFs. In the second part of the study, the gas separation performance of the synthesized MOFs is evaluated. Gas adsorption experiments are conducted to assess the adsorption capacities and selectivities of the MOFs towards different gas molecules. The effects of temperature, pressure, and gas composition on the gas separation performance are investigated to understand the gas adsorption mechanisms in the MOF materials. The results show that the synthesized MOFs exhibit high gas adsorption capacities and selectivities for specific gas pairs, such as CO2/N2 and CH4/CO2. The structural properties of the MOFs, including pore size, surface area, and functional groups, play a crucial role in determining the gas separation performance. The adsorption isotherms and selectivity values obtained from the experiments demonstrate the potential of the novel MOFs for practical gas separation applications. Overall, this thesis contributes to the understanding of the synthesis and characterization of MOFs for gas separation applications. The novel MOFs developed in this study show promising gas separation performance, highlighting the potential of MOFs as effective materials for addressing the challenges in gas separation processes. Further research is warranted to explore the scalability and practical applications of these MOFs in industrial gas separation technologies.