Functional Framework Materials

An developing category of porous crystalline compounds known as functional framework materials may find use in a variety of fields, including the storage and separation of gases, catalysis, and other processes. These materials have metal centers at their cores, which are then joined by organic linkers to form organized three-dimensional structures that have high surface areas and pore diameters that can be tuned. Researchers are able to develop framework materials with specialized capabilities by methodically choosing a variety of metal nodes and biological linkers. For instance, frameworks that have open metal sites or functional groups are able to adsorb certain gas molecules in a selective manner. The structure is extremely porous, which results in a vast surface area that is available for reactions and interactions. 

A significant amount of study is being put into the synthesis of innovative frameworks and the investigation of the distinctive aspects of these frameworks. These very flexible materials show promise for applications in sustainable energy, such as the storage of hydrogen and the capture of carbon dioxide. It is possible that the further development of functional framework materials may result in highly effective industrial separation procedures as well as innovative catalytic systems for the manufacture of specialized chemicals. The malleability of their structures and the atomic level at which they were designed herald an exciting new era in materials science.

References:

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Jiao, Long R., et al. “Metal–Organic Frameworks: Structures and Functional Applications.” Materials Today, vol. 27, July 2019, pp. 43–68, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mattod.2018.10.038.

Bradshaw, Darren, et al. Metal–Organic Framework Growth at Functional Interfaces: Thin Films and Composites for Diverse Applications. no. 6, Feb. 2012, pp. 2344–81, doi:https://doi.org/10.1039/c1cs15276a.

Jia, Tao, et al. “Progress and Potential of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for Gas Storage and Separation: A Review.” Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, vol. 10, no. 5, July 2022, pp. 108300–108300, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2022.108300.

Haldar, Ritesh, and Tapas Kumar Maji. “Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) Based on Mixed Linker Systems: Structural Diversities towards Functional Materials.” CrystEngComm, vol. 15, no. 45, Oct. 2013, pp. 9276–9276, doi:https://doi.org/10.1039/c3ce41438h.