POSS-based microporous polymers: Efficient Friedel-Crafts synthesis, CO2 capture and separation properties

Two kinds of POSS-based microporous organic polymers (PMOPs) were prepared by cost-effective Friedel-Crafts reaction of octaphenylsilsesquioxanes with p -dimethoxybenzene (PMOP-1) or cyanuric chloride (PMOP-2). PMOP-1 with high surface area of 806 m 2  g −1 exhibited reasonable CO 2 adsorption (2.59 mmol g −1 , 273 K/1 bar) and selectivity, whereas PMOP-2 with lower surface area (559 m 2  g −1 ) showed a higher CO 2 /N 2 selectivity (30.0) and CO 2 /CH 4 selectivity (6.8) at 273 K/1 bar due to the high amount of nitrogen incorporated within the structure. The correlation between the performance of PMOPs in CO 2 capture/separation and their properties such as surface area, surface active sites, and heat of adsorption was investigated. The combination of a cost-effective method, high thermal stability, and reasonable selective adsorption make these materials potential candidates for application in CO 2 capture and separation technology.