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 CO2 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 CO2/N-2 selectivity (30.0) and CO2/CH4 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 CO2 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 CO2 capture and separation technology. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Inc.