We present an ab-initio derived force field to describe the structural and mechanical properties of metal–organic frameworks (or coordination polymers). The aim is a transferable interatomic potential that can be applied to MOFs regardless of metal or ligand identity. The initial parametrization set includes MOF-5, IRMOF-10, IRMOF-14, UiO-66, UiO-67, and HKUST-1. The force field describes the periodic crystal and considers effective atomic charges based on topological analysis of the Bloch states of the extended materials. Transferable potentials were developed for the four organic ligands comprising the test set and for the associated Cu, Zn, and Zr metal nodes. The predicted materials properties, including bulk moduli and vibrational frequencies, are in agreement with explicit density functional theory calculations. The modal heat capacity and lattice thermal expansion are also predicted.

We report an investigation of the “missing-linker phenomenon” in the Zr-based metal–organic framework UiO-66 using atomistic force field and quantum chemical methods. For a vacant benzene dicarboxylate ligand, the lowest energy charge-capping mechanism involves acetic acid or Cl–/H2O. The calculated defect free energy of formation is remarkably low, consistent with the high defect concentrations reported experimentally. A dynamic structural instability is identified for certain higher defect concentrations. In addition to the changes in material properties upon defect formation, we assess the formation of molecular aggregates, which provide an additional driving force for ligand loss. These results are expected to be of relevance to a wide range of metal–organic frameworks.

We report the development of a forcefield capable of reproducing accurate lattice dynamics of metal-organic frameworks. Phonon spectra, thermodynamic and mechanical properties, such as free energies, heat capacities and bulk moduli, are calculated using the quasi-harmonic approximation to account for anharmonic behaviour due to thermal expansion. Comparison to density functional theory calculations of properties such as Grüneisen parameters, bulk moduli and thermal expansion supports the accuracy of the derived forcefield model. Material properties are also reported in a full analysis of the lattice dynamics of an initial subset of structures including: MOF-5, IRMOF-10, UiO-66, UiO-67, NOTT-300, MIL-125, MOF-74 and MOF-650.

The energetics and electronic structure of defects in the metal–organic framework UiO-66 is investigated using density functional theory.