The control over the size and shape of nanoMOFs is essential for their exploitation in integrated devices such as sensors, membranes for gas separation, photoelectrodes, etc. Here, we demonstrate the synthesis of nanowires and three-dimensionally interconnected nanowire networks of Cu-based metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) by a combination of ion-track technology and electrochemical methods. In particular, Cu nanowires and nanowire networks were electrodeposited inside polymeric etched ion-track membranes and subsequently converted by electrochemical oxidation into different Cu-based MOFs such as the wellknown Cu 3 (BTC) 2 (also known as HKUST-1) and the lesserknown MOF Cu(INA) 2 . The MOFs are formed inside the template, therefore adopting the shape of the host nanochannels. The synthesized MOF nanowires exhibit tunable diameters between 80 and 260 nm. Characterization by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy indicates that the employed electrochemical conversion includes the formation of Cu 2 O as an intermediate, as well as the initial formation of an amorphous MOF phase, which crystallizes upon longer reaction times.

Alkali-borosilicate glasses are one of the most used types of glasses with a high technological importance. In order to optimize glasses for diverse applications, an understanding of the correlation between microscopic structure and macroscopic properties is of central interest in materials science. It has been found that the crack initiation in borosilicate glasses can be influenced by changes in network interconnectivity. In the NBS2 borosilicate glass system (74.0SiO 2 -20.7B 2 O 3 -4.3Na 2 O-1.0Al 2 O 3 in mol%) two subnetworks are present, i.e., a silicate and a borate network. Increasing cooling rates during processing were found to improve glasses crack resistance. Simultaneously, an increase in the network interconnectivity accompanied by an increasing capacity for densification were noticed. Their individual contribution to the mechanic response, however, remained unclear. In the present study the borosilicate glasses were systematically modified by addition of up to 4.0 mol% Al 2 O 3 . Changes in the network connectivity as well as the short-and medium-range order were characterized using Raman and NMR spectroscopy. Both the Raman and the 11 B NMR results show that four-fold-coordinated boron is converted into three-fold-coordination as the Al 2 O 3 content increases. Additionally, 27 Al NMR experiments show that aluminum is dominantly present in four-fold coordination. Aluminum-tetrahedra are thus charge balanced by sodium ions and incorporated into the silicate network. Finally, nanoindentation testing was employed to link the inherent glass structure and its network configuration to the mechanical glass response. It was found that the glass softens with increasing Al 2 O 3 content, which enhances the crack resistance of the borosilicate glass.

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