To improve methane adsorption by pore structure optimization, we developed a new organic linker and used it to construct a NbO-type metal-organic framework ZJNU-53 that, after activation, exhibits exceptionally high methane storage and working capacities of 241 and 190 cm(3) (STP) cm(-3) at 298 K and 65 bar, respectively, if the packing loss is not considered, which are among the highest reported for MOF materials.