ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

Inelastic Neutron Scattering to probe H/D exchange in Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks for hydrogen isotope separations

Abstract: Separating hydrogen and deuterium isotopes is presently among the most formidable separation challenges, due to their similar size, boiling point, and properties. Despite this there is a growing demand for deuterium, due to its use for isotope specific experiments and labelling studies in chemistry, biology, materials science, nuclear fusion, and medicine.[1] Current technologies to separate hydrogen (1H) and deuterium (2H), either require incredibly low temperatures (~30 K), have low D2/H2 separation efficiencies, or very low uptake capacities, making them inefficient. One approach is to employ materials that can exchange hydrogen and deuterium atoms. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are of particular interest for this, as they have higher concentrations of H atoms than other porous systems (e.g., zeolites or mesoporous silicas), whilst having an incredibly high surface area (> 1500 m2 g-1), increasing the interactions between the framework host and any gaseous species.[1] Recently using a combination of 1H and 2H solid state magic-angle spinning NMR (ssNMR), we have shown that the MOF Zn-ZIF-8, has potential in exchanging, and storing hydrogen and deuterium. In this experiment we will compare the INS spectra of hydrogenated Zn-ZIF-8, and fully deuterated Zn-ZIF-8, with our Zn-ZIF-8 sample after H/D exchange, allowing us to quantify the H/D exchange, and determine where this exchange occurs.

Principal Investigator: Dr Matthew Potter
Experimenter: Dr Pankaj Sharma
Experimenter: Dr Jindrich Nebrensky
Experimenter: Mr Adam Bruce
Experimenter: Mr Michael Walters
Local Contact: Dr Hamish Cavaye

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2510259

ISIS Experiment Number: RB2510259

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
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Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Dr Matthew Potter et al; (2025): Inelastic Neutron Scattering to probe H/D exchange in Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks for hydrogen isotope separations, STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2510259

Data is released under the CC-BY-4.0 license.