The Metal–Organic Framework MIL‐53(Al) Constructed from Multiple Metal Sources: Alumina,Aluminum Hydroxide,and Boehmite

Three aluminum compounds, namely alumina, aluminum hydroxide, and boehmite, are probed as the metal sources for the hydrothermal synthesis of a typical metal–organic framework MIL‐53(Al). The process exhibits enhanced synthetic efficiency without the generation of strongly acidic byproducts. The time‐course monitoring of conversion from different aluminum sources into MIL‐53(Al) is achieved by multiple characterization that reveals a similar but differentiated crystallinity, porosity, and morphology relative to typical MIL‐53(Al) prepared from water‐soluble aluminum salts. Moreover, the prepared MIL‐53(Al) constructed with the three insoluble aluminum sources exhibit an improved thermal stability of up to nearly 600 °C and enhanced yields. Alumina and boehmite are more preferable than aluminum hydroxide in terms of product porosity, yield, and reaction time. The adsorption performances of a typical environmental endocrine disruptor, dimethyl phthalate, on the prepared MIL‐53(Al) samples are also investigated. The improved structural stability of MIL‐53(Al) prepared from these alternative aluminum sources enables double‐enhanced adsorption performance (up to 206 mg g^?1) relative to the conventionally obtained MIL‐53(Al).     

Steam‐Assisted Synthesis of an Extra‐Stable Polyoxometalate‐Encapsulating Metal Azolate Framework: Applications in Reagent Purification and Proton Conduction

Different from the conventional synthesis approaches, such as hydrothermal or solvothermal synthesis, a porous metal azolate framework encapsulating Keggin‐type [SiW₁₂O₄₀]^4? anions was prepared by an environmentally friendly, low‐cost, and highly efficient steam‐assisted conversion method for the first time. The nanosized polyoxometalates as a template were encapsulated by a zeotype 6⁴4⁸ cage constructed by 28 nuclear zinc atoms connected through 32 Trz ligands. The obtained composite exhibits excellent thermal and chemical stability; meanwhile, its special ability to selectively absorb water from alcohols makes it efficiently separate water from analytically pure ethanol, with the result that water content decreases from 0.23 to 0.05 wt %, which is superior to the standard of chromatographic grade ethanol (<0.1 wt %). Besides, alternating current (ac) impedance experiments also reveal that the hybrid is a kind of proton conductive material.     

Flexible and Hierarchical Metal–Organic Framework Composites for High‐Performance Catalysis

The development of porous composite materials is of great significance for their potentially improved performance over those of individual components and extensive applications in separation, energy storage, and heterogeneous catalysis. Now mesoporous metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with macroporous melamine foam (MF) have been integrated using a one‐pot process, generating a series of MOF/MF composite materials with preserved crystallinity, hierarchical porosity, and increased stability over that of melamine foam. The MOF nanocrystals were threaded by the melamine foam networks, resembling a ball‐and‐stick model overall. The resulting MOF/MF composite materials were employed as an effective heterogeneous catalyst for the epoxidation of cholesteryl esters. Combining the advantages of interpenetrative mesoporous and macroporous structures, the MOF/melamine foam composite has higher dispersibility and more accessibility of catalytic sites, exhibiting excellent catalytic performance.     

An Unusual Porous Metal–Organic Framework that Demonstrates the Highly Efficient Exchange of Metal Ions and the Reversible Adsorption of Iodine

An exceedingly rare porous metal–organic framework that is based on cadmium ions and multi carboxylate ligands, namely, Na_0.25[(CH₃)₂NH₂]_1.75[Cd(L)₂] ? x solvent ( 1 , H₂L=2‐hydroxymethyl‐4,6‐bi(2′‐methoxyl‐4′‐(2′′‐1′′‐carboxyl)‐ethlene)‐1,3,5‐mesitylene), has been successfully synthesized under solvothermal conditions. Compound 1 exhibits a 2D network that is constructed from left‐ and right‐handed helical chains. Furthermore, neighboring 2D layers are stacked to give a porous motif. Strikingly, compound 1 exhibits the highly efficient exchange of metal ions from the main framework components whilst maintaining the structural integrity and the crystallinity of the network. In addition, Compound 1 also shows outstanding performance in the reversible adsorption of iodine.     

Morphological and Structural Evolutions of Metal–Organic Framework Particles from Amorphous Spheres to Crystalline Hexagonal Rods

Compositions as well as morphologies and structures of particles are vital factors that define their properties and applications. However, the morphology and structure changes associated with the composition change of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are barely studied. Herein, we report the morphology and structure changes of MOF particles associated with the ratio of two organic linkers incorporated within MOF particles, when they are constructed from the reactions of In(NO₃)₃ in the presence of isophthalic acid (H₂IPA) and/or 1,4‐benzenedicarboxylic acid (H₂BDC). Two tendencies—the tendency of BDC and In³⁺ to form porous crystalline hexagonal rods, and the tendency of IPA and In³⁺ to form non‐porous amorphous spherical particles—compete during the formation of MOF particles. Eventually, the incorporated ratio of BDC and IPA within the MOF particles, and thus their morphology and porosity, are controlled by altering the relative amounts of H₂BDC and H₂IPA used during the reactions.     

A Versatile AlIII‐Based Metal–Organic Framework with High Physicochemical Stability

A unique Al^III‐based metal–organic framework (467‐MOF) with two types of square channels has been designed and synthesized by using a flexible tricarboxylate ligand under solvothermal conditions. 467‐MOF exhibits superior thermal and chemical stability and, moreover, shows high CO₂ sorption selectivity over H₂, with a selectivity, based on the ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) of approximately 45 at 273 or 293 K. Furthermore, its solvent‐dependent photoluminescence makes it an applicable sensor in the detection of nitrobenzene explosives through fluorescence quenching.     

pH‐Dependent Proton Conducting Behavior in a Metal–Organic Framework Material

A porous metal–organic framework (MOF), [Ni₂(dobdc)(H₂O)₂]?6 H₂O (Ni₂(dobdc) or Ni‐MOF‐74; dobdc^4?=2,5‐dioxido‐1,4‐benzenedicarboxylate) with hexagonal channels was synthesized using a microwave‐assisted solvothermal reaction. Soaking Ni₂(dobdc) in sulfuric acid solutions at different pH values afforded new proton‐conducting frameworks, H⁺@Ni₂(dobdc). At pH 1.8, the acidified MOF shows proton conductivity of 2.2×10^?2 S cm^?1 at 80 °C and 95 % relative humidity (RH), approaching the highest values reported for MOFs. Proton conduction occurs via the Grotthuss mechanism with a significantly low activation energy as compared to other proton‐conducting MOFs. Protonated water clusters within the pores of H⁺@Ni₂(dobdc) play an important role in the conduction process.     

polyMOFs: A Class of Interconvertible Polymer‐Metal‐Organic‐Framework Hybrid Materials

Preparation of porous materials from one‐dimensional polymers is challenging because the packing of polymer chains results in a dense, non‐porous arrangement. Herein, we demonstrate the remarkable adaptation of an amorphous, linear, non‐porous, flexible organic polymer into a three‐dimensional, highly porous, crystalline solid, as the organic component of a metal–organic framework (MOF). A polymer with aromatic dicarboxylic acids in the backbone functioned as a polymer ligand upon annealing with Zn^II, generating a polymer–metal–organic framework (polyMOF). These materials break the dogma that MOFs must be prepared from small, rigid ligands. Similarly, polyMOFs contradict conventional polymer chemistry by demonstrating that linear and amorphous polymers can be readily coaxed into a highly crystalline, porous, three‐dimensional structure by coordination chemistry.     

The Structure of the Aluminum Fumarate Metal–Organic Framework A520

The synthesis of the commercially available aluminum fumarate sample A520 has been optimized and its structure analyzed through a combination of powder diffraction, solid‐state NMR spectroscopy, molecular simulation, IR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. A520 is an analogue of the MIL‐53(Al)‐BDC solid, but with a more rigid behavior. The differences between the commercial and the optimized samples in terms of defects have been investigated by in situ IR spectroscopy and correlated to their catalytic activity for ethanol dehydration.     

Well‐Defined Metal–Organic Framework Hollow Nanocages

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have demonstrated great potentials in a variety of important applications. To enhance the inherent properties and endow materials with multifunctionality, the rational design and synthesis of MOFs with nanoscale porosity and hollow feature is highly desired and remains a great challenge. In this work, the formation of a series of well‐defined MOF (MOF‐5, Fe^II‐MOF‐5, Fe^III‐MOF‐5) hollow nanocages by a facile solvothermal method, without any additional supporting template is reported. A surface‐energy‐driven mechanism may be responsible for the formation of hollow nanocages. The addition of pre‐synthesized poly(vinylpyrrolidone)‐ (PVP) capped noble‐metal nanoparticles into the synthetic system of MOF hollow nanocages yields the yolk–shell noble metal@MOF nanostructures. The present strategy to fabricate hollow and yolk–shell nanostructures is expected to open up exciting opportunities for developing a novel class of inorganic–organic hybrid functional nanomaterials.     

Defect‐Controlled Preparation of UiO‐66 Metal–Organic Framework Thin Films with Molecular Sieving Capability

Metal–organic framework (MOF) UiO‐66 thin films are solvothermally grown on conducting substrates. The as‐synthesized MOF thin films are subsequently dried by a supercritical process or treated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The obtained UiO‐66 thin films show excellent molecular sieving capability as confirmed by the electrochemical studies for redox‐active species with different sizes.     

Encapsulation of a Porous Organic Cage into the Pores of a Metal–Organic Framework for Enhanced CO2 Separation

We present a facile approach to encapsulate functional porous organic cages (POCs) into a robust MOF by an incipient‐wetness impregnation method. Porous cucurbit[6]uril (CB6) cages with high CO₂ affinity were successfully encapsulated into the nanospace of Cr‐based MIL‐101 while retaining the crystal framework, morphology, and high stability of MIL‐101. The encapsulated CB6 amount is controllable. Importantly, as the CB6 molecule with intrinsic micropores is smaller than the inner mesopores of MIL‐101, more affinity sites for CO₂ are created in the resulting CB6@MIL‐101 composites, leading to enhanced CO₂ uptake capacity and CO₂/N₂, CO₂/CH₄ separation performance at low pressures. This POC@MOF encapsulation strategy provides a facile route to introduce functional POCs into stable MOFs for various potential applications.     

A Bismuth‐Based Metal–Organic Framework as an Efficient Visible‐Light‐Driven Photocatalyst

A visible‐light‐responsive bismuth‐based metal–organic framework (Bi‐mna) is demonstrated to show good photoelectric and photocatalytic properties. Combining experimental and theoretical results, a ligand‐to‐ligand charge transfer (LLCT) process is found to be responsible for the high performance, which gives rise to a longer lifetime of photogenerated charge carriers. Our results suggest that bismuth‐based MOFs could be promising candidates for the development of efficient visible‐light photocatalysts.     

Encapsulation of an Interpenetrated Diamondoid Inorganic Building Block in a Metal–Organic Framework

The first example of an inorganic–organic composite framework with an interpenetrated diamondoid inorganic building block, featuring unique {InNa}_n helices and {In₁₂Na₁₆} nano‐rings, has been constructed and structurally characterized. This framework also represents a unique example of encapsulation of an interpenetrated diamondoid inorganic building block in a metal–organic framework.     

Turn‐On Luminescence Sensing and Real‐Time Detection of Traces of Water in Organic Solvents by a Flexible Metal–Organic Framework

The development of efficient sensors for the determination of the water content in organic solvents is highly desirable for a number of chemical industries. Presented herein is a Mg²⁺ metal–organic framework (MOF), which exhibits the remarkable capability to rapidly detect traces of water (0.05–5 % v/v) in various organic solvents through an unusual turn‐on luminescence sensing mechanism. The extraordinary sensitivity and fast response of this MOF for water, and its reusability make it one of the most powerful water sensors known.     

A Stable Microporous Mixed‐Metal Metal–Organic Framework with Highly Active Cu2+ Sites for Efficient Cross‐Dehydrogenative Coupling Reactions

Two metalloporphyrin octacarboxylates were used to link copper(II) nodes for the formation of two novel porous mixed‐metal metal–organic frameworks (M′MOFs) containing nanopore cages (2.1 nm in diameter) or nanotubular channels (1.5 nm in diameter). The highly active Cu²⁺ sites on the nanotubular surfaces of the stable porous M′MOF ZJU‐22 , stabilized by three‐connected nets, lead to the superior catalytic activity for the cross‐dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reaction.     

A Zeolite‐Like Zinc Phosphonocarboxylate Framework and Its Transformation into Two‐ and Three‐Dimensional Structures

Three zinc phosphonocarboxylates, Zn₂(pbc)₂?Hdma?H₃O?2H₂O ( 1 ), Zn(pbc)?Hdma ( 2 ), and Zn_4.5(pbc)₃(OH)(H₂O)_0.5?Hdma ( 3 ) (H₃pbc=4‐phosphonobenzoic acid, dma=dimethylamine) were synthesized by the mixed solvothermal reaction of Zn(Ac)₂?2H₂O and 4‐phosphonobenzoic acid in N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) and water. The zigzag and ladderlike chains completely constructed by triply fused 4‐membered rings (denoted SBU‐1) are linked by the organic moieties to form the 3D zeolite‐like structure 1 and the layered structure 2 , respectively. As for structure 3 , a new second building unit (SBU‐2) formed by the inset of the [Zn₃O₁₂] trimer into the 4‐membered ring as well as SBU‐1 is observed. The connections between the two types of SBUs lead to a “zinc phosphate” layer, which is linked by the organic groups to generate a 3D pillar‐layered structure. Both solution‐mediated and solid‐state transformations of 1 to 2 and 3 were observed. A possible mechanism for the transformation is proposed. Gas sorption studies show that 1 has accessible pores for methanol and water and exhibits size selectivity for alcohols.