Simple biphenyl derived porous aromatic frameworks with attractive xenon/krypton separation

Porous Aromatic Frameworks (PAFs) with ultramicropores have emerged as a significant contributor to the gas separation field. However, there is a lack of efficient and cost-effective methods for the practical application of PAFs. In this study, we successfully synthesized QS-PAFs economically using Friedel-Crafts arylation of biphenyl derivatives. The QS-PAFs were analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrum, thermogravimetric analysis, and N2 adsorption experiment. We found that the QS-PAFs have comparable pore size, considerable surface areas, and good stabilities. The results demonstrated their high gas uptake capacities for Xe and attractive selectivity for Xe/Kr separation.