The Chemistry of Metal Organic Frameworks Captured by Liquid and Gas Phase in Situ TEM
Abstract
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are self-assembled networks of inorganic nodes (metal ions or metal ion clusters often referred to as secondary building units, SBUs) bridged by multitopic organic ligands (i.e. linkers). MOFs are highly porous materials and are highly tunable by pre- or post-synthetic methods. MOFs have attracted great attention as materials for gas storage, separation, catalysis, and other uses. To date, there have been few studies on MOF formation, partly due to difficulties in analyzing the formation of the particles as they assemble and precipitate from solution, leaving a large gap in the understanding of mechanisms underlying the formation of these important materials such as how to precisely control and tune the porosity or final morphology. It is of course, precisely these properties of the materials that make them important and interesting. Furthermore, as MOF defects and nanoscale morphologies have been shown to be important for bulk properties, having a method to both analyze MOF formation and defects would be highly desirable in optimizing their synthesis or post-synthetic modification. Here we propose that (scanning) transmission electron microscopy (S)TEM, both analytical and in situ (environmental gas-phase and/or heating) can be used to observe the precise nanoscale structure of MOFs after synthesis or modification (lattice-structure, morphology and elemental composition), and during complex functional processes such as the absorption and release of small molecules. Such studies will give unparalleled information about the fundamental mechanisms of formation, and the behavior of individual particles, information that can be used toward the development of specifically optimized functional MOFs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1067243
Entities
People
- Francesco Paesani
- Nathan C. Gianneschi
- Seth M Cohen
Organizations
- University of California, San Diego