Phys.org November 3, 2021
An international team of researchers (Canada, USA – industry) designed and synthesized a new MOF composed of the rare-earth metals yttrium and terbium, bound with an organic linker. They named the structure RE-CU-10 (RE = rare-earth, CU = Concordia University). According to the researchers the linker, a rectangular tetratopic pyrene-based ligand, has a particular core that interacts with ultraviolet light, producing an exceptionally reactive, though short-lived, oxygen species that causes a change in the chemical warfare agent sulfur mustard. In tests they found that the MOF effectively oxidized—and thereby detoxified—the chemical warfare agent simulant. The process took about 15 minutes, achieving 50 percent conversion to the less toxic product in only three and a half minutes. It has the potential to be scaled up…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Graphical abstract. Credit: Chem. Mater. 2021, 33, 11, 4163–4169, May 27, 2021Â