Résumé
A combination of methods (microcalorimetry, FTIR, Synchrotron XRD and molecular modelling) have been used to understand the sorption induced breathing with in the chromium metal organic framework MIL53. Strongly polar probes such as CO2 and H2O induce such breathing whereas non-polar molecules such as CH4 do not. In this system the breathing is strongly related to specific interactions between surface hydroxyls and the probe gas/vapour.