skip to main content


Search for: All records

Creators/Authors contains: "Stephens, Peter W."

Note: When clicking on a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) number, you will be taken to an external site maintained by the publisher. Some full text articles may not yet be available without a charge during the embargo (administrative interval).
What is a DOI Number?

Some links on this page may take you to non-federal websites. Their policies may differ from this site.

  1. Abstract

    Purification of C2H4from an C2H4/C2H6mixture is one of the most challenging separation processes, which is achieved mainly through energy‐intensive, cryogenic distillation in industry. Sustainable, non‐distillation methods are highly desired as alternatives. We discovered that the fluorinated bis(pyrazolyl)borate ligand supported copper(I) complex {[(CF3)2Bp]Cu}3has features very desirable in an olefin–paraffin separation material. It binds ethylene exclusively over ethane generating [(CF3)2Bp]Cu(C2H4). This molecular compound exhibits extremely high and record ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) C2H4/C2H6gas separation selectivity, affording high purity (>99.5 %) ethylene that can be readily desorbed from separation columns. In‐situ PXRD provides a “live” picture of the reversible conversion between [(CF3)2Bp]Cu(C2H4) and the ethylene‐free sorbent in the solid‐state, driven by the presence or removal of C2H4. Molecular structures of trinuclear {[(CF3)2Bp]Cu}3and mononuclear [(CF3)2Bp]Cu(C2H4) are also presented.

     
    more » « less
  2. Abstract

    Purification of C2H4from an C2H4/C2H6mixture is one of the most challenging separation processes, which is achieved mainly through energy‐intensive, cryogenic distillation in industry. Sustainable, non‐distillation methods are highly desired as alternatives. We discovered that the fluorinated bis(pyrazolyl)borate ligand supported copper(I) complex {[(CF3)2Bp]Cu}3has features very desirable in an olefin–paraffin separation material. It binds ethylene exclusively over ethane generating [(CF3)2Bp]Cu(C2H4). This molecular compound exhibits extremely high and record ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) C2H4/C2H6gas separation selectivity, affording high purity (>99.5 %) ethylene that can be readily desorbed from separation columns. In‐situ PXRD provides a “live” picture of the reversible conversion between [(CF3)2Bp]Cu(C2H4) and the ethylene‐free sorbent in the solid‐state, driven by the presence or removal of C2H4. Molecular structures of trinuclear {[(CF3)2Bp]Cu}3and mononuclear [(CF3)2Bp]Cu(C2H4) are also presented.

     
    more » « less