A novel interpenetrated anion-pillared porous material with high water tolerance afforded efficient C 2 H 2 /C 2 H 4 separation.

Porous material-based adsorption technology enables greatly reduced energy consumption and is recognized as a promising solution to change the current energy-intensive conditions in gas separation. Here, a new water stable interpenetrated anion-pillared metal-organic framework ZU-62-Ni affording highly efficient C2H2/C2H4 separation was designed.