Metal Organic Frameworks: The highly porous and versatile future material
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Metal Organic Frameworks |
The high porosity or internal surface area of MOFs is one of their most advantageous properties. Metal Organic Framework crystals feature metal ion centers connected by organic linkers into two- or three-dimensional framework structures with nanometer-sized channels and cavities. Careful selection of the metal ions and organic ligands allows for systematic tuning of the pore size, functionality, and geometry. Measured Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface areas of MOFs are routinely above 1500 m2/g with some reported to have surface areas exceeding 5000 m2/g. For comparison, typical surface areas of other porous solids like zeolites and activated carbon are 500-1500 m2/g and 1000 m2/g respectively. The extremely large internal void spaces of MOFs afford massive storage capacities and high adsorption selectivities for gases.
The ability to tune pore size and chemical functionality makes MOFs promising candidates for improved gas storage. MOFs have achieved some of the highest reported gravimetric and volumetric adsorption capacities for hydrogen, the cleanest burning fossil fuel. However, further improvements are still needed to meet DOE targets for usable H2 storage in vehicles. MOFs also display outstanding uptake capacities and selectivities for other industrially and environmentally important gases like natural gas, carbon dioxide, and methane. Beyond pure gas storage, the design of MOFs optimized for mixed-gas systems offers possibilities for improved separation. Overall, the enormous internal surface areas, systematic tunability, and tailored functionalities of MOFs position them as leading contenders for next-generation gas applications.
Metal sites within MOFs can act as Lewis-acid catalysts while organic linkers offer possibilities for base-catalyzed transformations or shape selectivity. By placing reactive metal centers in precise arrangements surrounded by organic pores and functional groups, MOFs present a new design paradigm for solid catalysts. MOF catalysts have shown promising activities and reusability for varied reactions including hydrolysis, carbon-carbon coupling, hydrogenation, epoxidation, and more. Furthermore, MOFs allow incorporation of multiple catalytic species for cooperative or tandem catalysis not accessible with typical solid frameworks. Areas of current research include designing MOF structures optimized for reaction selectivity, activity, and stability under process conditions. MOF catalysts offer exciting prospects for improved performance and resource efficiency.
Sensing
MOFs have tremendous potential as sensing platforms because their physical and chemical properties are readily modulated. Tunable porosity enables selective detection of analytes via size exclusion effects. Photoactive MOFs fluoresce in response to chemical stimuli, giving colorimetric or luminescent signals. Redox-active MOFs change conductivity upon analyte binding. Surface-immobilized recognition sites provide molecular selectivity. Researchers are developing MOF-based sensors for important targets including explosives, toxic gases, pharmaceutical residues, and biological species. Recent examples include fluorescent MOFs for imaging cancer biomarkers or quantifying neurotransmitters, electronic skin sensors utilizing conductive MOFs, and paper-based detection kits leveraging patterned MOF arrays. The early-stage field of MOF sensing holds great promise for low-cost, rapid, portable, and reusable detection technologies impacting security, healthcare, and more.
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