Electrospun fiber mats with multistep seeded growth of UTSA-16 metal organic frameworks by microwave reaction with excellent CO2 capture performance

Abstract

A novel flexible PAN fiber adsorbent was developed using an electrospinning technique with UTSA-16 (Co) and UTSA-16 (Zn) metal organic frameworks (MOFs). MOF powders with different ratios were dispersed within PAN fiber networks and processed to produce MOF crystalline layers under microwave irradiation for the seeded growth of MOFs. The PAN/UTSA-16 (Co) and (Zn) fiber mats exhibit 75% and 78% of the CO2 adsorption capacities of pristine UTSA-16 (Co) and UTSA-16 (Zn), respectively, while a high CO2/N2 selectivity of 113-128 is preserved. Stability experiments show that PAN/UTSA-16 (Zn) fibers are more robust under humid air, NO2, and SO2 environments compared to PAN/UTSA-16 (Co). Additionally, the PAN/UTSA-16 fibers show excellent recyclability during ten adsorption-desorption cycles at 298 and 393 K. Morphology, porous properties, and crystallinity of the PAN/UTSA-16 fibers were examined using SEM, BET, and XRD.