The CO2 adsorption on various Prussian blue analogue hexacyanoferrates was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis. Compositions of prepared phases were verified by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, infra-red spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. The influence of different alkali cations in the cubic Fm3m structures was investigated for nominal compositions A2/3Cu[Fe(CN)6]2/3 with A = vacant, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs. The Rb and Cs compounds show the highest CO2 adsorption per unit cell, 3.3 molecules of CO2 at 20 C and 1 bar, while in terms of mmol/g the Na compound exhibits the highest adsorption capability, 3.8 mmol/g at 20 C and 1 bar. The fastest adsorption/desorption is exhibited by the A-cation free compound and the Li compound. The influence of the amount of Fe(CN)6 vacancies were assessed by determining the CO2 adsorption capabilities of Cu[Fe(CN)6]1/2 (Fm3m symmetry, nominally 50% vacancies), KCu[Fe(CN)6]3/4 (Fm3m symmetry, nominally 25% vacancies), and CsCu[Fe(CN)6] (I-4m2 symmetry, nominally 0% vacancies). Higher adsorption was, as expected, shown on compounds with higher vacancy concentrations.
Keywords: Prussian blue analogue; adsorption; carbon dioxide; thermogravimetry.