Courtney Ennis (University of Otago), affiliated with the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, and international collaborators (ANSTO, the Australian National University)
Researchers are constantly looking for new ways to store and use energy more efficiently. One promising avenue involves hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs), that are made from building blocks held together by hydrogen bonds. These bonds are strong enough to give the material stability, even in tough conditions like elevated temperatures or vacuums.
Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks have a unique structure that makes them particularly good at storing gases and separating diverse kinds of molecules, which is essential for clean energy technologies. However, several questions remain about how they work.
The researchers used the High Resolution FTIR (THz) beamline to look at vibrations of the atoms in the material, giving a detailed picture of its structure and how it behaves. They found distinctive infrared signals that reveal details about the shape and flexibility of the HOF channels (pores where gases are stored or filtered), how water molecules are arranged and bonded inside the framework, and the types of hydrogen bonds that hold the structure together.
Using advanced computer simulations, they matched these signals to specific atomic movements, helping to identify which parts of the structure are responsible for each vibrational feature.
Understanding these vibrations helps scientists design better materials for specific uses. For example, if we can predict how a HOF will behave under different conditions, we can tailor it for specific energy storage or gas separation tasks, leading to more efficient clean energy solutions.
Scientists can now explore how HOFs interact with different gases, how they change under different temperatures, and how we can design new HOFs with even better properties for energy applications. The research is one step along the way to more efficient and sustainable energy technologies.
Reference:
Ennis C, Appadoo DRT, Boerd SA and White NG. 2022. Vibrational mode analysis of hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs): synchrotron infrared studies. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physis 18. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CP00796G
