Porous Azo-Bridged Porphyrin-Phthalocyanine Network with High Iodine Capture Capability

We report a highly efficient iodine adsorbent achieved by rational design of a porous azo-bridged porphyrinphthalocyanine network (AzoPPN), which was synthesized by a catalyst-free coupling reaction between free-base 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-nitrophenyl)-porphyrin and nickel tetraaminophthlocyanine. AzoPPN has a permanent porous structure and plenty of porphyrin and phthalocyanine units in the skeleton as effective sorption sites. It displays excellent adsorption of iodine vapor up to 290 wt.% and also shows remarkable capability as adsorbent for iodine in solution. This strategy of combining physisorption with chemisorption in one adsorbent will pave the way for the development of new materials for iodine capture.