Microporous Polymer Networks for Carbon Capture Applications

A new generation of porous polymer networks has been obtained in quantitative yield by reacting two rigid trifunctional aromatic monomers (1,3,5-triphenylbenzene and triptycene) with two ketones having electron-withdrawing groups (trifluoroacetophenone and isatin) in superacidic media. The resulting amorphous networks are microporous materials, with moderate Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface areas (from 580 to 790 m g), and have high thermal stability. In particular, isatin yields networks with a very high narrow microporosity contribution, 82% for triptycene and 64% for 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene. The existence of favorable interactions between lactams and CO molecules has been stated. The materials show excellent CO uptakes (up to 207 mg g at 0 °C/1 bar) and can be regenerated by vacuum, without heating. Under postcombustion conditions, their CO/N selectivities are comparable to those of other organic porous networks. Because of the easily scalable synthetic method and their favorable characteristics, these materials are very promising as industrial adsorbents.Authors acknowledge Manuel Avella-Romero for the SEM images taken at the SEM−TEM Microscopy Facilities of the University of Valladolid, and Dr. Levi ́ López for the NMR spectra carried out at the Solid State NMR facilities of ICTPCSIC. C.A.-L. kindly acknowledges a Mexico’s grant (264013 CONACYT postdoctoral fellowship).Peer Reviewe