Metal-organic frameworks are microporous crystalline materials whose structure and function can be engineered at the level of their constituent organic and inorganic molecular building blocks. Traditionally used for gas storage and separation, they are also excellent platforms for investigating fundamental issues related to the transport of energy and charge of relevance to new-generation photovoltaics, batteries, electrocatalysts, and other molecular devices. We will present how exploiting the rigidity of these constructs can trigger unusual excitonic responses in rotor molecules such as tetraphenylethylene, and will discuss our efforts towards assembling highly porous materials with high charge mobility. In parallel, we will discuss new synthetic strategies that can unravel new potential from well-known materials such as Zn4O(1,4-benzenedicarboxylate)3 via simple ion metathesis routes that often challenge traditional wisdom.

Metal-organic frameworks: New opportunities in energy research

244th National Meeting (2012)

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