Disclosing the Properties of a New Ce(III)-Based MOF:Ce2(NDC)3(DMF)2

The new Ce(III) based metal-organic framework Ce-2(NDC)(3)(DMF)(2), containing the simple ditopic linker napthalenedicar-boxylate (NDC2-), has been synthesized under solvothermal reaction conditions with high purity and yield. Its crystal structure was determined with single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) techniques and further confirmed by Ce K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Upon thermal activation the compound revealed a phase transformation at about 300 degrees C involving the removal of the solvent molecules, which has been investigated in detail by thermogravimetric analysis, variable temperature powder X-ray diffraction, EXAFS and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy techniques. The crystal structure of the compound after desolvation (Ce-2(NDC)(3)) becomes severely disordered, but a synergic use of both SC-XRD and Ce K-edge EXAFS allowed us to reveal its crystal structure. Porosity and adsorption properties were studied by the means of volumetric adsorption measurements. Ce-2(NDC) 3 is porous toward carbon dioxide at -78 degrees C, resulting in a surface area of about 200 m(2)/g. CO2 uptake at 1 bar and 25 degrees C is about 4% by weight.