Single-crystal 2D covalent organic frameworks for high-capacity methane storage

B Baoqiu Yu (Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering) F Felipe L. Oliveira W Wenliang Li Q Qingmei Xu X Xu Ding (State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) S Shangwei Yuan (Key Laboratory of Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry of Guizhou Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) Y Yucheng Jin (Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering) H Hua Liu H Hailong Wang (Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering) X Xin Xiao (Key Laboratory of Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry of Guizhou Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) J Jingping Zhang (Department of Chemistry) G Guillaume Maurin B Banglin Chen J Jianzhuang Jiang (Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering)

Abstract

Abstract 2D covalent organic frameworks (COFs) usually possess a polycrystalline nature as well as lower porosity and surface area than 3D counterparts, restraining their exploration over gas storage applications. Herein, a substituent strategy has been proposed and employed to generate three robust single-crystal 2D COFs isomers with atom-resolution structures determined by 3D electron diffraction. Among three isomers, a precise engineering of their interlayer distance affords the highest Brunauer−Emmett−Teller surface area of ~2100 m 2 g −1 and the largest pore volume of 1.40 cm 3  g −1 for the desolvated GZU-1. This COF shows the highest total volumetric methane uptake of 240 cm 3 (STP) cm −3 at 273 K and 100 bar among 2D COFs, even comparable with those for excellent 3D MOFs. This work not only delivers unique insight into the design of 2D single-crystal COFs by interlayer stacking regulation, but also promotes the application of highly porous 2D COFs in gas storage.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 17, Issue 1
Published February 14, 2026
ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Nature Communications

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2041-1723 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (14)

B

Baoqiu Yu

Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering

F

Felipe L. Oliveira

W

Wenliang Li

Q

Qingmei Xu

X

Xu Ding

State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

S

Shangwei Yuan

Key Laboratory of Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry of Guizhou Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Y

Yucheng Jin

Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering

H

Hua Liu

H

Hailong Wang

Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering

X

Xin Xiao

Key Laboratory of Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry of Guizhou Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

J

Jingping Zhang

Department of Chemistry

G

Guillaume Maurin

B

Banglin Chen

J

Jianzhuang Jiang

Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering