Surface-anchored metal-organic frameworks (surMOFs) present the ability to integrate the versatility and great potential of MOF systems directly onto or into device architectures, sensor platforms, or other test-beds designed for specific applications.  Different deposition methods are investigated to determine the type of morphologies produced and how these can be tailored to tune material properties.  For some applications, such as sensing, high surface area or rough features may be desirable; whereas for other applications, such as light harvesting, a smooth and continuous film may be desirable.  The growth mechanisms for multiple MOF systems are investigated utilizing a layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition method with characterization undertaken by atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry, and IR spectroscopy, revealing growth mechanisms ranging from Volmer-Weber to van der Merwe.  These findings are compared to films formed by co-deposition and drop-cast methods, investigating how film thickness and surface morphology can be controlled using variables such as time, temperature, or concentration (as opposed to number of cycles as is done with LBL method).  Different surface morphologies with nanoscale features were found to be controllable using co-deposition method.  Then, we investigated how the features evolved when using LBL fabricated film as a seed layer for co-deposition process (and vice versa with co-deposition film as a seed layer for LBL process).  Development and optimization of drop-casting procedures produced thicker films for comparison to surMOF nanostructures formed by LBL and co-deposition method.  We have examined how gas adsorption affects the surface morphology and crystal structure of these thin film structures.  This study has included a comparison of surface-bound and free-standing MOF structures.  We have systematically investigated how ligands bound to open-sites on the metal nodes of the MOF can affect how the framework responds to gas exposure, specifically characterizing morphology as well as crystal structure.  In addition to gas storage, we have investigated these films for their potential in battery and optical applications.<br/>

Development of fabrication methods to tailor surface morphology of metal-organic framework thin films and powders

254th National Meeting (2017)

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