Over the past decade, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been demonstrated as one of the most promising class of materials for the detoxification of chemical warfare agents (CWAs). Owing to their exceptional chemical stability, structural diversity and high efficiency, Zr-MOFs composed of Zr<sub>6</sub> clusters and carboxylate linkers are excellent materials to be implemented in protective equipment (e.g. face masks, filtration systems). However, most of the MOF-based hydrolysis catalysts to date require liquid water media buffered by a volatile liquid base. To overcome this limitation, our lab has developed efficient MOF composites that can rapidly degrade a nerve agent simulant in pure water and in high humidity environments without a liquid base. The design and synthesis of these composites will be discussed. I will also present a methodology that our lab recently developed to determine the singlet oxygen quantum yield of photoactive MOFs. The quantum yield data obtained using this method can be used to evaluate the efficiencies of MOF photosensitizers for the detoxification of mustard gas and other related photocatalytic/photochemical applications.

Optimizing metal-organic framework catalysts for the detoxification of chemical warfare agents

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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