Large-Area, Freestanding MOF Films of Planar, Curvilinear, or Micropatterned Topographies

Anisotropic Thermal Conductivity Enhancement of the Aligned Metal-Organic Framework under Water Vapor Adsorption

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) exhibit high adsorption and catalytic activities for various gas species. Because gas adsorption can cause a temperature increase in the MOF, which decreases the capacity and adsorption rate, a strict evaluation of its effect on the thermal conductivity of MOFs is essential. In this study, the thermal conductivity measurement of the MOF under water vapor adsorption was performed using an oriented film of copper tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (Cu-TCPP) MOF. A recently developed bidirectional 3ω method enabled the anisotropic thermal conductivity measurement of layered Cu-TCPP while maintaining its ordered structure. The water adsorption was found to increase the thermal conductivity in both in-plane and cross-plane directions with different trends and magnitudes, owing to the structural anisotropy. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that additional vibrational modes provided by the adsorbed water molecules were the reason for the thermal conductivity enhancement.

Single-Site Metal-Organic Framework and Copper Foil Tandem Catalyst for Highly Selective CO2 Electroreduction to C2 H4

Tandem catalysis is a promising way to break the limitation of linear scaling relationship for enhancing efficiency, and the desired tandem catalysts for electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂ RR) are urgent to be developed. Here, a tandem electrocatalyst created by combining Cu foil (CF) with a single-site Cu(II) metal-organic framework (MOF), named as Cu-MOF-CF, to realize improved electrochemical CO₂ RR performance, is reported. The Cu-MOF-CF shows suppression of CH₄ , great increase in C₂ H₄ selectivity (48.6%), and partial current density of C₂ H₄ at -1.11 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. The outstanding performance of Cu-MOF-CF for CO₂ RR results from the improved microenvironment of the Cu active sites that inhibits CH₄ production, more CO intermediate produced by single-site Cu-MOF in situ for CF, and the enlarged active surface area by porous Cu-MOF. This work provides a strategy to combine MOFs with copper-based electrocatalysts to establish high-efficiency electrocatalytic CO₂ RR.

Hierarchical Metal-Organic Aerogel as a Highly Selective and Sustainable CO2 Adsorbent

Typical amorphous aerogels pose great potential for CO₂ adsorbents with high surface areas and facile diffusion, but they lack well-defined porosity and specific selectivity, inhibiting utilization of their full functionality. To assign well-defined porous structures to aerogels, a hierarchical metal-organic aerogel (HMOA) is designed, which consists of well-defined micropores (d ∼ 1 nm) by coordinative integration with chromium(III) and organic ligands. Due to its hierarchical structure with intrinsically flexible coordination, the HMOA has excellent porous features of a high surface area and a reusable surface with appropriate binding energy for CO₂ adsorption. The HMOA features high CO₂ adsorption capacity, high CO₂/N₂ IAST selectivity, and vacuum-induced surface regenerability (100% through 20 cycles). Further, the HMOA could be prepared via simple ambient drying methods while retaining the microporous network. This unique surface-tension-resistant micropore formation and flexible coordination systems of HMOA make it a potential candidate for a CO₂ adsorbent with industrial scalability and reproducibility.

Resistive Memory Devices Based on Reticular Materials for Electrical Information Storage

Recently, reticular materials, such as metal-organic frameworks and covalent organic frameworks, have been proposed as an active insulating layer in resistive switching memory systems through their chemically tunable porous structure. A resistive random access memory (RRAM) cell, a digital memristor, is one of the most outstanding emergent memory devices that achieves high-density electrical information storage with variable electrical resistance states between two terminals. The overall design of the RRAM devices comprises an insulating layer sandwiched between two metal electrodes (metal/insulator/metal). RRAM devices with fast switching speeds and enhanced storage density have the potential to be manufactured with excellent scalability owing to their relatively simple device architecture. In this review, recent progress on the development of reticular material-based RRAM devices and the study of their operational mechanisms are reviewed, and new challenges and future perspectives related to reticular material-based RRAM are discussed.

Porphyrinic MOF Film for Multifaceted Electrochemical Sensing

Electrochemical sensors are indispensable in clinical diagnosis, biochemical detection and environmental monitoring, thanks to their ability to detect analytes in real‐time with direct electronic readout. However, electrochemical sensors are challenged by sensitivity—the need to detect low concentrations, and selectivity—to detect specific analytes in multicomponent systems. Herein, a porphyrinic metal‐organic framework (PP‐MOF), Mn‐PCN‐222 is deposited on a conductive indium tin oxide (ITO) surface. It affords Mn‐PCN‐222/ITO, a versatile voltammetric sensor able to detect redox‐active analytes such as inorganic ions, organic hazardous substances and pollutants, including nitroaromatics, phenolic and quinone‐hydroquinone toxins, heavy metal ions, biological species, as well as azo dyes. As a working electrode, the high surface area of Mn‐PCN‐222/ITO enables high currents, and therefore leverages highly sensitive analysis. The metalloporphyrin centre facilitates analyte‐specific redox catalysis to simultaneously detect more than one analyte in binary and ternary systems allowing for detection of a wide array of trace pollutants under real‐world conditions, most with high sensitivity.

Self-Assembling Films of Covalent Organic Frameworks Enable Long-Term, Efficient Cycling of Zinc-Ion Batteries

Despite their safety, nontoxicity, and cost-effectiveness, zinc aqueous batteries still suffer from limited rechargeability and poor cycle life, largely due to spontaneous surface corrosion and formation of large Zn dendrites by irregular and uneven plating and stripping. In this work, these untoward effects are minimized by covering Zn electrodes with ultrathin layers of covalent organic frameworks, COFs. These nanoporous and mechanically flexible films form by self-assembly-via the straightforward and scalable dip-coating technique-and permit efficient mass and charge transport while suppressing surface corrosion and growth of large Zn dendrites. The batteries demonstrated have excellent capacity retention and stable polarization voltage for over 420 h of cycling at 1 mA cm^-2 . The COF films essential for these improvements can be readily deposited over large areas and curvilinear supports, enabling, for example, foldable wire-type batteries.

Layer-by-Layer Growth Control of Metal-Organic Framework Thin Films Assembled on Polymer Films

We demonstrate growth control of Cu-based metal-organic framework (MOF) (HKUST-1) thin films assembled by the layer-by-layer technique on polymer films. The crystallinity and crystal face of MOF thin films were found to be controlled by reaction sites in polymer films such as hydroxy groups (the (100) crystal face), carbonyl groups (the (111) crystal face), and amide groups (the (100) crystal face). The HKUST-1 film growth amount is highly correlated with the polar component of the surface free energy, indicating that polymer sites, which afford hydrogen and coordination bonding, are important for the initial adsorption of Cu complexes. We also demonstrated a resistive switching device application using an HKUST-1 thin film on the poly(vinyl alcohol) dip-coated film at 40 deposition cycles, which suggests that the HKUST-1 thin film serves as a resistive switching layer with good film formation capability.

Continuous ultrathin UiO-66-NH2 coatings on a polymeric substrate synthesized by a layer-by-layer method: a kind of promising membrane for oil-water separation

In this paper, we successfully controllably synthesize continuous nanothickness MOF coatings (NTMCs) by a layer-by-layer method on a polymeric substrate. The polymeric substrate was pretreated with high energy γ-irradiation to induce a high surface density of living reactive groups, which ensure the formation of continuous surface-integrated NTMCs. SEM, FT-IR spectroscopy and XPS were used to characterize NTMCs. The thickness and morphology were tuned by the LBL cycles, and NTMCs with a thickness of ∼44 nm were obtained. The chemical bonds between the NTMCs and polymeric substrate were confirmed by XPS and EDS. Moreover, the NTMCs exhibit good performance for oil-water separation. We believe that our work will promote the design and precise synthesis of high-performance MOF based membranes for multiple practical applications in future.

Metal–Organic Framework Thin Films: Fabrication, Modification, and Patterning

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been of great interest for their outstanding properties, such as large surface area, low density, tunable pore size and functionality, excellent structural flexibility, and good chemical stability. A significant advancement in the preparation of MOF thin films according to the needs of a variety of applications has been achieved in the past decades. Yet there is still high demand in advancing the understanding of the processes to realize more scalable, controllable, and greener synthesis. This review provides a summary of the current progress on the manufacturing of MOF thin films, including the various thin-film deposition processes, the approaches to modify the MOF structure and pore functionality, and the means to prepare patterned MOF thin films. The suitability of different synthesis techniques under various processing environments is analyzed. Finally, we discuss opportunities for future development in the manufacturing of MOF thin films.

Luminescent lanthanide metal-organic framework test strip for immediate detection of tetracycline antibiotics in water

Tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) are a kind of commonly used antibiotics for treating infections, however, the overuse of TCs has adversely affected human health and the ecosystem. Thus, detection of TCs in water is important but challenging. In this work, a luminescent lanthanide metal-organic framework (LnMOF) sensor (1) for immediate detection of oxytetracycline (OTC) and tetracycline (TC) is developed. The sensor has high acid-base and water stability. Investigation reveals that among the 27 species of antibiotics, anions and cations under investigation, 1 shows highly selective sensing towards OTC and TC, and the detection is not disturbed by the presence of other species. The limit of detection (LOD) for OTC and TC are ultra-sensitive value of 1.95 and 2.77 nM, respectively. Investigation reveals the sensing mechanism is due to the inner filter effect. Further studies reveal that the sensor can be used in real sample monitoring. More importantly, test strips based on 1 are manufactured. They are an easy-to-use, low-cost, highly selective and sensitive sensing device for detecting OTC and TC. The sensing can be distinguished immediately and easily by the naked eyes, making it an excellent candidate to monitor OTC and TC in real use.

Fabrication of a superhydrophobic surface using a simple in situ growth method of HKUST-1/copper foam with hexadecanethiol modification

A superhydrophobic HKUST-1/HDT/CF surface with excellent durability was fabricated by using an in situ growth method combined with surface HDT modification.

Dual Metal-Organic Framework Heterointerface

Herein, a core-shell dual metal-organic framework (MOF) heterointerface is synthesized. The Prussian blue (PB) MOF acts as a core for the growth of a porphyrin-doped MOF which is named PB@MOF. Porphyrins can significantly enhance the transfer of photoinspired electrons from PB and suppress the recombination of electrons and holes, thus enhancing the photocatalytic properties and consequently promoting the yields of singlet oxygen rapidly under 660 nm illumination. PB@MOF can exhibit a better photothermal conversion efficiency up to 29.9% under 808 nm near-infrared irradiation (NIR). The PB@MOF heterointerface can possess excellent antibacterial efficacies of 99.31% and 98.68% opposed to Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, separately, under the dual light illumination of 808 nm NIR and 660 nm red light for 10 min. Furthermore, the trace amount of Fe and Zr ions can trigger the immune system to favor wound healing, promising that PB@MOF achieves the rapid therapy of bacterial infected wounds and environmental disinfection.

Poly(dimethylsilylene)diacetylene-Guided ZIF-Based Heterostructures for Full Ku-Band Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), a group of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), hold promise as building blocks in electromagnetic (EM) wave absorbing/shielding materials and devices. In this contribution, we proposed a facile strategy to synthesize three-dimensional ZIF-67-based hierarchical heterostructures through coordinated reaction of a preceramic component, poly(dimethylsilylene)diacetylene (PDSDA) with ZIF-67, followed by carbonizing the PDSDA-wrapped ZIF at high temperature. The introduction of PDSDA leads to controllable generation of a surface network containing branched carbon nanotubes and regional distributed graphitic carbons, in addition to the nanostructures with a well-defined size and porous surface made by cobalt nanoparticles. The surface structures can be tailored through variations in pyrolysis temperatures, therefore enabling a simple and robust route to facilitate a suitable structural surface. The heterostructure of the ZIF nanocomplex allows the existence of dielectric loss and magnetic loss, therefore yielding a significant improvement on EM wave absorption with a minimum reflection coefficient (RC_min) of -50.9 dB at 17.0 GHz at a thickness of 1.9 mm and an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) covering the full Ku-band (12.0-18.0 GHz).

Ultrathin hydrophobic films based on the metal organic framework UiO-66-COOH(Zr)

This work reports on the fabrication, optimization and characterization of ultrathin films containing submicrometer particles (sMPs) of the hydrophilic and water stable UiO-66-COOH(Zr) metal organic framework (MOF). MOF particles of ≈200 nm have been synthesized and assembled at the air-water interface by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The use of different solvents, mixtures of solvents and surfactants has been investigated in order to improve the stability of MOF dispersions and reduce particle aggregation. The compact MOF/surfactant films containing 10 wt % octadecylphoshonic acid (ODP) have been deposited on substrates of different nature by Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) and Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) methods, showing that the presence of even only one MOF/ODP monolayer can increase the water contact angle of highly hydrophilic substrates such as mica or glass up to 120°. These films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy, revealing the formation of a continuous film where ODP molecules adopt an almost vertical position and cover MOF particles. Moreover, the presence of MOF particles significantly enhances the surface roughness and allows ultrathin, hydrophobic coverage to be obtained. Finally, it has been shown that the crystallinity and the porosity of the MOF remains almost unaltered in MOF/ODP films.

Uniform and directional growth of centimeter-sized single crystals of cyclodextrin-based metal organic frameworks

Although macroscopically-sized MOF crystals have proven of interest for efficient chromatographic separations, information processing, or optoelectronic devices, growing really large crystals has proven problematic. A growth-and-reseeding method can now produce MOF monocrystals ca. 1 cm³ in volume vs. at most ca. 0.025 cm³ by prior methods.

Adhesive bacterial amyloid nanofiber-mediated growth of metal-organic frameworks on diverse polymeric substrates

Adhesive curli nanofibers, bacterial biofilms' major protein component, were utilized to mediate the growth of MOFs on various polymeric substrates.

The development of a simple, robust, and generalizable approach for spatially controlled growth of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) on diverse polymeric substrates is of profound technological significance but remains a major challenge. Here, we reported the use of adhesive bacterial amyloid nanofibers, also known as curli nanofibers (CNFs), major protein components of bacterial biofilms, as universal and chemically/mechanically robust coatings on various polymeric substrates to achieve controlled MOF growth with improved surface coverage up to 100-fold. Notably, owing to the intrinsic adhesive attributes of CNFs, our approach is applicable for MOF growth on both 2D surfaces and 3D objects regardless of their geometric complexity. Applying this technique to membrane fabrication afforded a thin-film composite membrane comprising a 760 ± 80 nm ZIF-8 selective layer grown on a microporous polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) support which exhibited a C₃H₆/C₃H₈ mixed-gas separation factor up to 10, C₃H₆ permeance up to 1110 GPU and operational stability up to 7 days. Our simple yet robust approach therefore provides new insights into designing new interfaces for mediating MOF growth and opens new opportunities for constructing new MOF-based membranes and devices.

A facile modular approach to the 2D oriented assembly MOF electrode for non-enzymatic sweat biosensors

The preparation of ordered metal organic frameworks (MOFs) will be a critical process for MOF-based nanoelectrodes in the future. In this work, we develop a novel approach to fabricating a type of MOF electrode based on flexible amino-functionalized graphene paper modified with 2D oriented assembly of Cu3(btc)2 nanocubes via facile interfacial synthesis and an effective dip-coating method. One interesting finding is that 2D arrays of Cu3(btc)2 nanocubes at oil-water interfaces can be transferred on amino-functionalized graphene paper, leading to a densely packed monolayer of Cu3(btc)2 nanocubes with a uniform size loaded on the paper electrode. The electrode demonstrates a variety of excellent sensing performances toward sweat lactate and glucose and has been applied in a non-enzymatic electrochemical biosensing platform for the first time. The modular nature of this approach to assembling MOF nanocrystals will provide new insight into the design of MOF-based electrodes for a wide range of applications in biosensing instruments, wearable electronics, and lab-on-a-chip devices.

Trace water mediated growth of oriented single-crystalline mesoporous metal–organic frameworks on gold nanorods

The growth of single-crystalline mesoporous MOFs with well-controlled orientation on the surface of gold nanorods was reported for the first time.

Metal-Organic Framework "Swimmers" with Energy-Efficient Autonomous Motility

Placed at a water/air interface, particles of porphyrin-based MOFs (metal-organic frameworks) cut from large-area films display efficient, multiple-use autonomous motility powered by release of solvents incorporated in the MOF matrix and directionality dictated by their shapes. The particles can be refueled multiple times and can achieve speeds of ca. 200 mm·s^-1 with high kinetic energy per unit of chemical "fuel" expended (>50 μJ·g^-1). Efficiency of motion depends on the nature of the fuel used as well as the microstructure and surface wettability of the MOF surface. When multiple movers are present at the interface, they organize into "open" structures that exhibit collective, time-periodic motions.

A metal-lustrous porphyrin foil

A metal-lustrous self-standing film, named "porphyrin foil", was formed from a glass-forming polymeric porphyrin. The amorphous glass nature of the porphyrin foil played a key role in spontaneously producing a smooth surface. Its sharp contrast in intense absorption and specular reflection of light at each wavelength provided a brilliant metallic lustre.

An updated roadmap for the integration of metal–organic frameworks with electronic devices and chemical sensors

This review highlights the steps needed to bring the properties of MOFs from the chemical lab to the microelectronics fab.