A combined stretching–tilting mechanism produces negative, zero and positive linear thermal expansion in a semi-flexible Cd(ii)-MOF

Abstract

A novel semi-flexible Cd(II)-MOF has been synthesized and characterized by variable temperature powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The material displays an unusual combination of thermal expansion (TE) i.e. negative, zero and positive, which is an extremely rare finding, especially for metal–organic frameworks as a result of a combined stretching–tilting mechanism.