Thermo-Responsive MOF/Polymer Composites for Temperature-Mediated Water Capture and Release

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2020 Jun 26;59(27):11003-11009. doi: 10.1002/anie.202002384. Epub 2020 Mar 24.

Abstract

We report an in situ polymerization strategy to incorporate a thermo-responsive polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), with controlled loadings into the cavity of a mesoporous metal-organic framework (MOF), MIL-101(Cr). The resulting MOF/polymer composites exhibit an unprecedented temperature-triggered water capture and release behavior originating from the thermo-responsive phase transition of the PNIPAM component. This result sheds light on the development of stimuli-responsive porous adsorbent materials for water capture and heat transfer applications under relatively mild operating conditions.

Keywords: metal-organic frameworks; poly(N-isopropylacrylamide); polymerization; thermo-responsive materials; water capture and release.