Gas storage in soft 1D nano-tunnels by the induced fit of a serration structure

Abstract

We describe the storage of gas molecules in soft 1D nano-tunnels caused by hindrance of molecular movement. Crystals of double-headed trifluorolactates contained uniform soft 1D nano-tunnels (ϕ = 0.25 and 0.4 nm), the walls of which were lined by trifluoromethyl groups spaced in 0.51 nm intervals. Storage of the gas molecules was observed as hysteresis in adsorption–desorption isotherm curves. With swelling, the fluoro-tunnels adsorbed gas molecules larger in diameter than the tunnels themselves. The serrated shape of the insides of the tunnels and the induced fit of the guest molecules in the tunnels hindered the movement of the guest molecules.