Flexible porous coordination polymer with multiple configurations for guest recognition and switchable CO2 sorption properties

Realizing multiple metastable configurations in a single porous coordination polymer has long been pursued to achieve switchable functionality. In this study, we reported multiple configurations in one porous coordination polymer material via the design of the adjustable intraframework pi-pi stacking moieties. We demonstrated that the porous coordination polymer can accommodate three different open pore phases depending on the type of solvent. Furthermore, this porous coordination polymer exhibits three distinct closed pore phases depending on the activation approaches, demonstrating different CO2 sorption properties.