Ultra-efficient deuterium separation under ambient conditions by a crystalline porous organic framework-Pd nanoparticle hybrid

Abstract

For the hydrogen isotopes of protium, deuterium, and tritium, separation of deuterium gas (D₂) from the mixture is of critical importance. High-purity D₂ can be utilized for nonradioactive isotope tracking, neutron scattering, and nuclear fusion. Current approaches for D₂ separation with Pd membranes and quantum sieving-based nanoporous materials are performed at high (673 K) and ultralow (30 K) temperatures, respectively, both of which consume significant amounts of energy and exhibit low separation efficiency. Thus, efficient D₂ separation under ambient conditions remains a challenge. In this study, high-purity D₂ is efficiently extracted from an isotopic mixture under ambient conditions by spatial confinement between Pd nanoparticles and a crystalline porous organic framework (CPOF-1) skeleton. This study provides a novel concept for deuterium separation with low energy consumption, low cost, and high efficiency, and it will be of great significance for practical applications.