New paper in PNAS

30 01 2026

Check out our new paper in PNAS, co-authored by Piotr Cieciórski, MSc and Dr Wojciech Danowski, together with collaborators from the University of Groningen (The Netherlands) and the University of Milano-Bicocca (Italy).

All-visible-light-responsive porous aromatic frameworks manipulate CO2 uptake by reversible bulk isomerization of azobenzene pendants
PNAS, 2026, 123, 5, e2520024123, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2520024123

Porous materials responsive to visible light are still rare, even though low-energy photon activation offers clear advantages. In our recent work, we developed a simple method to build switchable porous aromatic frameworks functionalized with o-fluoroazobenzene. These materials undergo rapid, fully reversible visible-light-induced isomerization throughout the bulk solid. The result? A dramatic change in gas adsorption. Most strikingly, the change in CO₂ uptake reaches one of the highest values reported for porous materials responsive to visible light. This study sets a new benchmark for robust, light-controlled materials for gas storage and separation—and in the future, these materials could capture CO₂ in the dark and release it simply by exposure to visible light.

Congratulations!