Metal-cluster-powered ultramicropore alliance in pore-space-partitioned metal-organic frameworks for benchmark one-step ethylene purification

Ultra-fine structural tuning of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) using isoreticular chemistry is helpful in designing ideal gas adsorbents but is extremely challenging. Known strategies mainly focus on ligand substitution/modification. Here, we open a pathway, metal-cluster-powered ultramicropore alliance, based on the pacs (partitioned acs) platform. The half replacement of Mn3 clusters by Mn6 clusters endows the target SNNU-181-Mn3+6, the first case of multi-cluster based pacs MOF, with combined ultramicropore as well as finely optimized N sites, resulting in greatly improved performance and setting a benchmark for challenging one-step ethylene (C2H4) purification. With the highest C2H6 uptake (5.49 mmol g−1), record-high C2H2 uptake (5.95 mmol g−1), and satisfactory ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) selectivity, SNNU-181-Mn3+6 can afford top-level C2H4 productivity under ambient conditions. Supported by the isoreticular replacement of the metal cluster module, the ultramicropore alliance breaks new ground in MOF chemistry.