@article{Liu2026, 
author = {Zongkai Liu and Bingquan Hua and Tianyou Lu and Guanying Dong and Jingwei Hou and Xiaoquan Feng and Yatao Zhang},
title = {Pore engineering via controlled decomposition of counter cations in an anion-based metal-organic framework},
year = {2026},
journal = {Nano Research},
volume = {19},
number = {3},
pages = {94908224},
keywords = {metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), pore engineering, C3H6/C3H8, guest molecule regulation},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/NR.2025.94908224},
doi = {10.26599/NR.2025.94908224},
abstract = {Manipulating the organic counter cations, which serve as pore gatekeepers to selectively obstruct the channels in anionic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), offers a highly effective strategy for optimizing the separation performance. Here, we report an yttrium-based MOF, Y-ebdc, featuring cage-type structures that accommodate protonated dimethylamine (DMA) as both counter cations and molecular sieving gates. Subsequent optimization of the adsorption separation performance for propylene/propane (C3H6/C3H8) was achieved through regulation of DMA’s thermal decomposition. The temperature dependence of DMA decomposition was elucidated using temperature-resolved in situ infrared spectroscopy and breakthrough studies. With approximately 70% of DMA removed, the expanded aperture window and increased pore volume remarkably enhance dynamic C3H6 uptake while simultaneously facilitating the direct production of polymer-grade (> 99.5%) C3H6 in a single adsorption–desorption cycle. This study exemplifies how engineering the pore environment via co-existing counter cations within MOFs can effectively boost gas adsorption and separation performance.}
}