Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
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Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of 3D hybrid organic–inorganic porous materials made up of metal ions or clusters connected by organic ligands. Highly porous and crystalline, MOFs are known for their exceptional surface area, tunable pore sizes, and chemical versatility. These properties make them valuable in a range of applications, including hydrogen storage, drug delivery, catalysis, semiconductors, and carbon capture.
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Related categories: porous organic frameworks, MOF ligands, COF ligands
Comparing MOFs
Key Features
- High porosity and surface area. MOFs act like molecular sieves, selectively trapping or adsorbing gases and liquids. Their pore size can be precisely controlled and tailored for specific adsorption, separation, or catalytic behaviors.
- Hybrid composition. MOFs combine metal centers with organic linkers to create coordination polymers. The physical and chemical properties of the connectors and metal play a decisive role in the properties of the resultant MOFs.
- Reticular architecture. Their gridlike, reticular structures provide predictable and repeatable frameworks, enabling precise control over material geometry and functionality.
- Exceptional versatility. Exploration of countless MOF variations supports innovation across many scientific and industrial fields.
Choosing the right MOF
| ZIF-8 | ZIF-67 | MIL-100(Fe) | UiO-66 | HKUST-1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal | Zinc | Cobalt (Co(II)) | Iron | Zirconium (Zr(IV)) | Copper |
| Organic Linker | 2-methylimidazole (mlm) linkers | 2-methylimidazolate (mlm) linkers | Benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (BTC) linkers | Benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate (BDC) linkers | Benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (BTC) linkers |
| Core Structure |
Zeolite
|
Zeolite
|
Tri-iron oxo-centred cluster
|
Face centered cubic
|
Paddlewheel units
|
| Thermal Stability | 550 °C | 500 °C | 310 °C | 500 °C | 240 °C |
| Example Applications | Targeted drug delivery, catalysis and gas separation | Water filtration and pollutant capture, in battery electrodes, gas seperation | CO2 capture, drug delivery, water purification | DMC production, drug delivery, catalysis, water purification | CO2 capture, use in batteries, water pollutants, drug delivery |
| Benefits | Very high thermal and chemical stability, high adsorption and porosity, high strain tolerance, biocompatibility and low toxicity | Very high thermal and chemical stability, high adsorption and porosity | High surface area, large accesible pore sizes, good moisture stability, low toxicity | High thermal and chemical stability due to stable structure, good water stability, can be injected with other materials (e.g. graphene oxide) | Structural rigidity, reliable, one of the first (so more previous research on this MOF) |
Resources and Support
What are Metal Organic Frameworks?
Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are a class of 3D materials that are made up of metals connected by organic linker compounds. Think of metals and organic compounds as building blocks that form structures. These structures come in a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from 1D to 3D.
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How to Make Metal-Organic Frameworks
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are made by connecting metal centers with organic linkers through coordination bonds. The process of creating MOFs plays a crucial role in crystal structure formation. This determines their properties and how well they perform in various applications.
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