In this work, a novel and simple flexible aromatic multi-carboxylate compound N,N′-(4,4′-biphenylyl) iminodiacetic acid (BP-IDA) was synthesized, with which two new stable metal-IDA gels (denoted as MIG1 and MIG2) with three-dimensional network structures have been prepared successfully by employing Cr³⁺ and Al³⁺ as the metal ions, respectively. The rheological performance was investigated by means of dynamic rheology measurement. The morphology and microstructure were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction technique. Nitrogen sorption isotherm measurement suggests that the MIG1 aerogel has considerable porosity with the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area up to 760 m²·g⁻¹. Owing to easy preparation, good stability, and three-dimensional network structure, the as-prepared metal-organic gels will possess potential applications in separation, catalysis, and drug delivery.

We report a highly efficient iodine adsorbent achieved by rational design of a porous azo-bridged porphyrin–phthalocyanine network (AzoPPN), which was synthesized by a catalyst-free coupling reaction between free-base 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-nitrophenyl)-porphyrin and nickel tetraaminophthlocyanine. AzoPPN has a permanent porous structure and plenty of porphyrin and phthalocyanine units in the skeleton as effective sorption sites. It displays excellent adsorption of iodine vapor up to 290 wt. % and also shows remarkable capability as adsorbent for iodine in solution. This strategy of combining physisorption with chemisorption in one adsorbent will pave the way for the development of new materials for iodine capture.