Photo-responsive azo MOF exhibiting high selectivity for CO₂ and xylene isomers

A combination of azo and acylamide ligands is used in the preparation of metal–organic frameworks. Light response research reveals that under UV–vis irradiation, the CO₂ adsorption of 1 declines as much as 21.4%. 1 exhibits excellent CO₂ adsorption selectivity over CH₄, O₂, CO, and N₂ gasses with IAST selectivity of 21–580 at 293 K. This MOF also has promising potential in separation of xylene isomers in the liquid phase with the adsorption of p-xylene of 265.15, o-xylene of 101.25 and m-xylene of 0 mg g⁻¹, respectively.