Issue 28, 2024

Synthetic and analytical considerations for the preparation of amorphous metal–organic frameworks

Abstract

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are hybrid porous materials presenting several tuneable properties, allowing them to be utilised for a wide range of applications. To date, focus has been on the preparation of novel crystalline MOFs for specific applications. Recently, interest in amorphous MOFs (aMOFs), defined by their lack of correlated long-range order, is growing. This is due to their potential favourable properties compared to their crystalline equivalents, including increased defect concentration, improved processability and gas separation ability. Direct synthesis of these disordered materials presents an alternative method of preparation to post-synthetic amorphisation of a crystalline framework, potentially allowing for the preparation of aMOFs with varying compositions and structures, and very different properties to crystalline MOFs. This perspective summarises current literature on directly synthesised aMOFs, and proposes methods that could be utilised to modify existing syntheses for crystalline MOFs to form their amorphous counterparts. It outlines parameters that could discourage the ordering of crystalline MOFs, before examining the potential properties that could emerge. Methodologies of structural characterisation are discussed, in addition to the necessary analyses required to define a topologically amorphous structure.

Graphical abstract: Synthetic and analytical considerations for the preparation of amorphous metal–organic frameworks

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Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
29 feb. 2024
Accepted
18 jun. 2024
First published
24 jun. 2024
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2024,15, 10689-10712

Synthetic and analytical considerations for the preparation of amorphous metal–organic frameworks

E. V. Shaw, A. M. Chester, G. P. Robertson, C. Castillo-Blas and T. D. Bennett, Chem. Sci., 2024, 15, 10689 DOI: 10.1039/D4SC01433B

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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