@DalicePinero@LatinXChem (3/3) Pd is expensive, but the benefits of having a stable, recyclable and functional cage make it more attractive in the long run.
@DalicePinero@LatinXChem (2/3) The Pd-ligand coordination bonds are strong enough to keep the cage stable in water and to be able to adsorb SO2 without decomposing. In addition, the square planar geometry of Pd makes it an efficient building block.
@DalicePinero@LatinXChem (1/3) Yes, I have replicated the methodology to obtain cages with Zn and Cu salts. The problem with Zn is that it prefers to coordinate with H2O than with the ligand. Likewise, both attempts at cages resulted in unstable compounds, so they could not be capable of adsorbing SO2.
@dtc2lab@LatinXChem Actually, SO2 undergoes an oxidation that is carried out by the counterions of the cage. IR spectrum after adsorption indicates that a reaction takes places between nitrate ions and SO2, which should result in the oxidation of the adsorbed gas to SOx species, such as sulfates.