Aldrich Materials Science
Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size Email this page to a friend Printer Friendly Page
Materials Science > Alternative Energy Materials > Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
Alternative Energy Materials

Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs)

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are materials in which metal – to-organic ligand interactions yield porous coordination networks with record-setting surface areas surpassing activated carbons and zeolites. The applications of MOFs include storage and separations of gases, sensors, catalysis and others.1

MOFs are usually prepared under solvo- or hydrothermal conditions in pure N,N-diethylformamide or N,N-dimethylformamide, which slowly decompose upon heating and generate bases capable of deprotonating organic linker molecules. The latter react with metal salts and produce 3D meta-organic networks. A typical approach to MOF synthesis is depicted in
Figure 1.2

Figure 1

Figure 1. Typical approach to the preparation of MOFs
(Fig. 1, MM 4.4)

Metal salts, solvents and MOF linkers, suitable for the preparation of high performance MOF-1773, UMCM-1504, NOTT-1015 and many others, are listed in the table below.


Dr. Channing Ahn of California Institute of Technology wrote to us about BTB (Prod. No. 686859) purchased from Sigma-Aldrich:

We're very happy with the results so far. Looks like your linker works well and has certainly saved us a lot of trouble in not having to make it ourselves!

Click here for a list of materials for Metal Organic Frameworks

References:

  1. Tools for designing high performance MOFs.
  2. Caskey, S. R; Matzger, A.J. Material Matters, 2009, 4, 111.
  3. Chae, H. K.; Siberio-Pérez, D. Y.; Kim, J.; Go, Y.; Eddaoudi, M.; Matzger, A. J.; O’Keeffe, M.; Yaghi, O. M. Nature, 2004, 427, 523.
  4. Wong-Foy, A. G.; Lebel, O.; Matzger, A. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 15740.
  5. Lin, X.; Telepeni, I.; Blake, A. J.; Dailly, A.; Brown, C. M.; Simmons, J. M.; Zoppi, M.; Walker, G. S.; Thomas, K. M.; Mays, T. J.; Hubberstey, P.; Champness, N. R.; Schröder, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 2159.

back to top

Alternative Energy Materials