Crystal structure, sorption properties, and electronic structure of flexible MOF, (Ni-4,4′azopyridine)[Ni(CN)4]

The flexible metal organic framework (MOF) compound, Ni(L) [Ni(CN)(4)], (L = 4,4'azopyridine (C10N4H8), nicknamed AzoPyr) is a 3D porous material that adopts the Hofmann-type structure. This paper reports our synthesis of Ni-AzoPyr and its structural, bonding, and sorption characterization. The red monoclinic crystals (with space group P2/n) were found to be multiple twins with three main components related by twin laws. The lattice parameters are a = 7.102 (3)angstrom(,) b = 14.154 (4) angstrom, c = 25.655 (10) angstrom, beta = 92.575 (12)degrees, and V = 2577 (2) angstrom(3). Ni-AzoPyr adopts a pillared structure with layers defined by the 2-D Ni [Ni(CN)(4)](n), nets and AzoPyr ligands as pillars linking between 6-fold coordinated Ni3 sites. An additional AzoPyr ligand was found to cross link between the 6-fold Nil sites to the open ends of the four-fold Ni2 sites. This arrangement results in a 5-fold pseudo square-pyramid for Ni2 and a significantly long Ni2-N distance of 2.436 (11)angstrom . Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that almost all states in the conduction band minimum (CBM) are occupied by the 6-fold coordinated Ni site, indicating little to no electrons are conducted at the 5-fold coordinated Ni site. Water molecules were found to be entrapped in the cavities of the structure. In addition to the gating adsorption feature of Ni-AzoPyr, using computational approach, we found that in the absence of water molecules, the pores were found to have a local diameter of 5.8 angstrom with a maximum number of 15.5 CO2 molecules per unit cell. The inclusion of disordered water solvent molecules gives rise to the formula of Ni(AzoPyr)[Ni(CN)(4)]center dot 0.8H(2)O, or C19H12N10Ni2 center dot 0.8(H2O).

Automated summary

The study presents the synthesis and structural characterization of Ni-AzoPyr, a metal organic framework compound with a 3D porous structure and long Ni2-N distance. The compound was found to have a pillared structure and exhibit gating adsorption features, with the presence of water molecules affecting its properties.