A Computational and Experimental Approach Linking Disorder, High-Pressure Behavior, and Mechanical Properties in UiO Frameworks

Identifying the Molecular Properties that Drive Explosive Sensitivity in a Series of Nitrate Esters

Energetic materials undergo hundreds of chemical reactions during exothermic runaway, generally beginning with the breaking of the weakest chemical bond, the "trigger linkage." Herein we report the syntheses of a series of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) derivatives in which the energetic nitrate ester groups are systematically substituted by hydroxyl groups. Because all the PETN derivatives have the same nitrate ester-based trigger linkages, quantum molecular dynamics (QMD) simulations show very similar Arrhenius kinetics for the first reactions. However, handling sensitivity testing conducted using drop weight impact indicates that sensitivity decreases precipitously as nitrate esters are replaced by hydroxyl groups. These experimental results are supported by QMD simulations that show systematic decreases in the final temperatures of the products and the energy release as the nitrate ester functional groups are removed. To better interpret these results, we derive a simple model based only on the specific enthalpy of explosion and the kinetics of trigger linkage rupture that accounts qualitatively for the decrease in sensitivity as nitrate ester groups are removed.

Synthesis and Mechanical Properties of sub 5-µm PolyUiO-66 Thin Films on Gold Surfaces

Metal-organic framework (MOF) thin films currently lack the mechanical stability needed for electronic device applications. Polymer-based metal-organic frameworks (polyMOFs) have been suggested to provide mechanical advantages over MOFs, however, the mechanical properties of polyMOFs have not yet been characterized. In this work, we developed a method to synthesize continuous sub-5 µm polyUiO-66(Zr) films on Au substrates, which allowed us to undertake initial mechanical property investigations.  Comparisons between polyUiO-66 and UiO-66 thin films determined polyUiO-66 thin films exhibit a lower modulus but similar hardness to UiO-66 thin films. The initial mechanical characterization indicates that further development is needed to leverage the mechanical property advantages of polyMOFs over MOFs. Additionally, the demonstration in this work of a continuous surface-supported polyUiO-66 thin film also enables utilization of the emerging class of polyMOF materials in sensors and devices applications.

Recent advances in simulating gas permeation through MOF membranes

In the last two decades, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have gained increasing attention in membrane-based gas separations due to their tunable structural properties. Computational methods play a critical role in providing molecular-level information about the membrane properties and identifying the most promising MOF membranes for various gas separations. In this review, we discuss the current state-of-the-art in molecular modeling methods to simulate gas permeation through MOF membranes and review the recent advancements. We finally address current opportunities and challenges of simulating gas permeation through MOF membranes to guide the development of high-performance MOF membranes in the future.

Correlating Pressure-Induced Emission Modulation with Linker Rotation in a Photoluminescent MOF

Conformational changes of linker units in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are often responsible for gate-opening phenomena in selective gas adsorption and stimuli-responsive optical and electrical sensing behaviour. Herein, we show that pressure-induced bathochromic shifts in both fluorescence emission and UV/Vis absorption spectra of a two-fold interpenetrated Hf MOF, linked by 1,4-phenylene-bis(4-ethynylbenzoate) ligands (Hf-peb), are induced by rotation of the central phenyl ring of the linker, from a coplanar arrangement to a twisted, previously unseen conformer. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction, alongside in situ fluorescence and UV/Vis absorption spectroscopies, measured up to 2.1 GPa in a diamond anvil cell on single crystals, are in excellent agreement, correlating linker rotation with modulation of emission. Topologically isolating the 1,4-phenylene-bis(4-ethynylbenzoate) units within a MOF facilitates concurrent structural and spectroscopic studies in the absence of intermolecular perturbation, allowing characterisation of the luminescence properties of a high-energy, twisted conformation of the previously well-studied chromophore. We expect the unique environment provided by network solids, and the capability of combining crystallographic and spectroscopic analysis, will greatly enhance understanding of luminescent molecules and lead to the development of novel sensors and adsorbents.

Elucidation of the Structural Origins and Contrasting Guest-Host Interactions in CO2 -Loaded CdSDB and PbSDB Metal-Organic Frameworks at High Pressures

PbSDB and CdSDB (SDB=4,4'-sulfonyldibenzoate) are two structurally related SDB-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that demonstrate promising potential for selective CO₂ adsorption capabilities. The structural stabilities and guest-host interactions between CO₂ and PbSDB or CdSDB frameworks at high pressures up to 13 GPa in situ were comparatively investigated by Raman spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Although both empty frameworks exhibited high chemical stabilities upon compression, they show different pressure-induced modifications in crystallinity. This difference can be attributed to their different coordination topologies that result in near isotropic contraction of unit cells for the CdSDB framework but anisotropic for the PbSDB framework. Furthermore, the CO₂ -loaded PbSDB and CdSDB frameworks at high pressures show strongly contrasting guest-host interactions in terms of the pressure-regulated CO₂ adsorption sites. In both frameworks, pressure can highly efficiently promote the formation of new CO₂ adsorption sites and the enhancement of guest-host interactions. In the CO₂ -loaded PbSDB framework, in particular, the peculiar pressure-tuned CO₂ population was observed preferentially on one of the two adsorption sites in response to external compression. These unique guest-host interaction behaviors can also be unambiguously correlated to their different topological origins. These findings for the PbSDB and CdSDB frameworks provide in-depth understanding of the structure-property relationship, which is of fundamental importance for CO₂ storage application in SDB-based MOFs.

Remarkable resilience of the formate cage in a multiferroic metal organic framework material: dimethyl ammonium manganese formate (DMAMnF)

Dimethyl ammonium (DMA) metal formate, an important member of the dense metal organic framework (MOF) family, is known to exhibit a low temperature ferroelectric transition, caused by the ordering of the hydrogen bonds. In this study, we probed the effect of pressure on the disordered hydrogen bond and the HCOO^- linkers of DMA manganese formate, with the help of XRD, IR and Raman spectroscopic studies up to ∼20 GPa. We observed that though a phase transition was initiated at ∼3.4 GPa, it was complete only by 6 GPa, indicating its first order nature. Beyond 7 GPa, this compound becomes highly disordered and shows an almost amorphous character, indicating a total collapse of the formate network. The reversibility of the initial structure of DMAMnF on the release of pressure from 20 GPa (i.e. from a highly disordered phase) shows the remarkable resilience of the formate cage. At the first crystal to crystal transition at 3.4 GPa, the distortion of the formate cage causes the ordering of the dynamically disordered hydrogen bond, resulting in a rearrangement of the DMA⁺ cation. Lifting of the mutual exclusivity of the Raman and IR modes (C-H out of plane and O-C-O bending modes) of HCOO^- linkers, at this transition, indicates that the high pressure phase may be non-centro-symmetric.

Supramolecular Organization in Confined Nanospaces

Empty spaces are abhorred by nature, which immediately rushes in to fill the void. Humans have learnt pretty well how to make ordered empty nanocontainers, and to get useful products out of them. When such an order is imparted to molecules, new properties may appear, often yielding advanced applications. This review illustrates how the organized void space inherently present in various materials: zeolites, clathrates, mesoporous silica/organosilica, and metal organic frameworks (MOF), for example, can be exploited to create confined, organized, and self-assembled supramolecular structures of low dimensionality. Features of the confining matrices relevant to organization are presented with special focus on molecular-level aspects. Selected examples of confined supramolecular assemblies - from small molecules to quantum dots or luminescent species - are aimed to show the complexity and potential of this approach. Natural confinement (minerals) and hyperconfinement (high pressure) provide further opportunities to understand and master the atomistic-level interactions governing supramolecular organization under nanospace restrictions.

Joint Experimental and Computational Investigation of the Flexibility of a Diacetylene-Based Mixed-Linker MOF: Revealing the Existence of Two Low-Temperature Phase Transitions and the Presence of Colossal Positive and Giant Negative Thermal Expansions

Solvothermal reaction in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) between 1,6-bis(1-imidazolyl)-2,4-hexadiyne monohydrate (L1⋅H₂ O), isophthalic acid (H₂ L2), and Zn(NO₃ )₂ ⋅6 H₂ O gives the diacetylene-based mixed-ligand coordination polymer {[Zn(L1)(L2)](DMF)₂ }_n (UMON-44) in 38 % yield. Combination of DSC with variable-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed the occurrence of two phase transitions spanning the ranges 129-144 K and 158-188 K. Furthermore, the three structurally similar phases of UMON-44 show giant negative and/or colossal positive thermal expansions. These unusual phenomena exist without any change in the contents of the unit cell. DFT calculations using the PBE+D3 dispersion scheme were able to distinguish between these polymorphs by accurately reproducing their salient structural features, although corrections in the size of the unit cell turned out to be necessary for the high-temperature phase to account for its large thermal expansion. In addition, the infrared spectra (vibration frequencies and peak intensities) of these theoretical models were calculated, allowing for univocal identification of the corresponding polymorphs. Last, the limits of our computational method were tested by calculating the phase transition temperatures and their associated enthalpies, and the derived figures compare favorably with the values determined experimentally.

Peptide metal–organic frameworks under pressure: flexible linkers for cooperative compression

The peptidic linker in Zn(GlyTyr)₂ provides a compressible cushion that allows for accommodating large distortions in the framework whilst avoiding amorphization.

Molecular Retrofitting Adapts a Metal-Organic Framework to Extreme Pressure

Despite numerous studies on chemical and thermal stability of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), mechanical stability remains largely undeveloped. To date, no strategy exists to control the mechanical deformation of MOFs under ultrahigh pressure. Here, we show that the mechanically unstable MOF-520 can be retrofitted by precise placement of a rigid 4,4'-biphenyldicarboxylate (BPDC) linker as a "girder" to afford a mechanically robust framework: MOF-520-BPDC. This retrofitting alters how the structure deforms under ultrahigh pressure and thus leads to a drastic enhancement of its mechanical robustness. While in the parent MOF-520 the pressure transmitting medium molecules diffuse into the pore and expand the structure from the inside upon compression, the girder in the new retrofitted MOF-520-BPDC prevents the framework from expansion by linking two adjacent secondary building units together. As a result, the modified MOF is stable under hydrostatic compression in a diamond-anvil cell up to 5.5 gigapascal. The increased mechanical stability of MOF-520-BPDC prohibits the typical amorphization observed for MOFs in this pressure range. Direct correlation between the orientation of these girders within the framework and its linear strain was estimated, providing new insights for the design of MOFs with optimized mechanical properties.

Modulating the optical properties of the AIE fluophor confined within UiO-66's nanochannels for chemical sensing

Transformation of aggregation induced emission (AIE) molecules into functional materials can greatly tune their fluorescence properties and expand their related potential applications. Here, we demonstrate a facile strategy to modulate the fluorescence properties of AIE molecules by confining them within the nanochannels of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). AIE molecules (4,4'-(hydrazine-1,2-diylidene bis(methanylylidene)) bis(3-hydroxybenzoic acid), HDBB) with pH-dependent emission were successfully integrated into UiO-66 resulting in a UiO-66⊃HDBB complex while maintaining the crystal structure by the host-guest process. The fluorescence properties of HDBB can be modulated by virtue of the unique nanospace confining effect. Furthermore, UiO-66⊃HDBB was used as a sensitive and selective fluorescent probe for Cu²⁺ detection in aqueous solution. This study provides a facile strategy for the construction of high performance AIE based luminescent materials with adjustable properties for potential applications.

Stereoselective Halogenation of Integral Unsaturated C-C Bonds in Chemically and Mechanically Robust Zr and Hf MOFs

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) containing Zr(IV) -based secondary building units (SBUs), as in the UiO-66 series, are receiving widespread research interest due to their enhanced chemical and mechanical stabilities. We report the synthesis and extensive characterisation, as both bulk microcrystalline and single crystal forms, of extended UiO-66 (Zr and Hf) series MOFs containing integral unsaturated alkene, alkyne and butadiyne units, which serve as reactive sites for postsynthetic modification (PSM) by halogenation. The water stability of a Zr-stilbene MOF allows the dual insertion of both -OH and -Br groups in a single, aqueous bromohydrination step. Quantitative bromination of alkyne- and butadiyne-containing MOFs is demonstrated to be stereoselective, as a consequence of the linker geometry when bound in the MOFs, while the inherent change in hybridisation and geometry of integral linker atoms is facilitated by the high mechanical stabilities of the MOFs, allowing bromination to be characterised in a single-crystal to single-crystal (SCSC) manner. The facile addition of bromine across the unsaturated C-C bonds in the MOFs in solution is extended to irreversible iodine sequestration in the vapour phase. A large-pore interpenetrated Zr MOF demonstrates an I2 storage capacity of 279 % w/w, through a combination of chemisorption and physisorption, which is comparable to the highest reported capacities of benchmark iodine storage materials for radioactive I2 sequestration. We expect this facile PSM process to not only allow trapping of toxic vapours, but also modulate the mechanical properties of the MOFs.