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Selective incarceration of caesium ions by Venus flytrap action of a flexible framework sulfide

Nature Chemistry volume 2, pages 187–191 (2010)Cite this article

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Abstract

The selective capture of Cs+ from solution is relevant to the remediation of nuclear waste and remains a significant challenge. Here we describe a new framework composed of [(CH3)2NH2]+ and [Ga2Sb2S7]2− layers, which are perforated with holes. Shape selectivity couples with framework flexibility, allowing the compound to respond to the ion-exchange process. The size, shape and flexibility of the holes allow Cs+ ions in an aqueous solution to selectively pass through and enter the material via an ion-exchange process. Following capture, the structure dynamically closes its holes in a manner reminiscent of a Venus flytrap, which prevents the Cs+ ions from leaching out. This process has useful implications in the separation science of Cs as it relates to the clean-up of nuclear waste. The dynamic response we describe here provides important insights for designing new materials for the selective removal of difficult-to-capture ions.

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Figure 1: Structure of [(CH3)2NH2]2Ga2Sb2S7·H2O (I).
Figure 2: X-ray diffraction of ion-exchanged compound I.
Figure 3: The unit cell of Cs2Ga2Sb2S7 (II) obtained by complete ion exchange of the original dimethylammonium cations in I.
Figure 4: The comparison of the relative cation sites in between the layers of compounds I and II.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by National Science Foundation (DMR-0801855). This work made use of the ICP-OES (supported by National Science Foundation) at the Integrated Molecular Structure Education and Research Center (IMSERC) at Northwestern University. 

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, 60208-3113, Illinois, USA

    Nan Ding & Mercouri G. Kanatzidis

  2. Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Chicago, 60439, Illinois, USA

    Mercouri G. Kanatzidis

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  1. Nan Ding
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  2. Mercouri G. Kanatzidis
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Contributions

N.D. and M.G.K. conceived and designed the experiments, N.D. performed the experiments, N.D. and M.G.K. analysed the data and co-wrote the paper.

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Correspondence to Mercouri G. Kanatzidis.

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Supplementary information (PDF 296 kb)

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Crystallographic data for compound I (CIF 11 kb)

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Crystallographic data for compound II (CIF 19 kb)

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Ding, N., Kanatzidis, M. Selective incarceration of caesium ions by Venus flytrap action of a flexible framework sulfide. Nature Chem 2, 187–191 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.519

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