Gaining Insights on the H2–Sorbent Interactions: Robust soc-MOF Platform as a Case Study

We report on the synthesis and gas adsorption properties (i.e., Ar and H2) of four robust 3-periodic metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) having the targeted soc topology. These cationic MOFs are isostructural to the parent indium-based MOF, In-soc-MOF-1a (for NO3–), previously reported by us, and likewise are constructed from the assembly of rigid μ3-oxygen-centered trinuclear metal carboxylate clusters, [M3O(O2C−)6], where M = In3+ or Fe3+. Each inorganic trinuclear molecular building block (MBB), generated in situ, is bridged by six 3,3′,5,5′-azobenzenetetracarboxylate (ABTC4–) ligands to give the extended (4,6)-connected MOF, soc-MOF. In our previous work, we confirmed that the parent soc-MOF, i.e., In-soc-MOF-1a, possesses unique structural characteristics (e.g., vacant In binding sites and narrow pores with higher localized charge density), which led to exceptional hydrogen (H2) storage capabilities. Therefore, charged MOFs with soc topology can be viewed collectively as an ideal prototypical platform to...