Direct observation of highly effective hydrogen isotope separation at active metal sites by in situ DRIFT spectroscopy

diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy was developed for the first time to observe the hydrogen isotope separation behavior at active Cu sites within Cu -MFU-4 , and clear evidence of the preferential adsorption of D over H was directly captured. More importantly, our results show direct spectral proof to clarify the chemical affinity quantum sieving mechanism of hydrogen isotope separation within porous adsorbents.