Controlling the Uptake and Regulating the Release of Nitric Oxide in Microporous Solids

Representative compounds from three classes of microporous solids, namely, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), hybrid ultra-microporous materials (HUMs), and porous-organic polymers (POPs), were investigated for their nitric oxide gas uptake and release behavior. Low-pressure sorption studies indicated strong chemisorption of NO on the free amine groups decorating the MOF UiO-66-NH₂ when compared to its non-amine-functionalized parent. The HUMs demonstrated reversible physisorption within the low-pressure regime, but interestingly in one case there was evidence for chemisorption following pressurization with NO at 10 bar. Significant release of chemisorbed NO from the UiO-66-NH₂ and one of the HUMs was triggered by addition of acid to the medium, a pH change from 7.4 to 5.4 being sufficient to trigger NO release. An imidazole-based POP exhibited chemisorption of NO at high pressure wherein the ring basicity facilitated both NO uptake and spontaneous release upon contact with the aqueous release medium.