Digital Microfluidic High‐Throughput Printing of Single Metal‐Organic Framework Crystals

Abstract

The first microfluidic method for accurately depositing monodisperse single MOF crystals is presented, enabling unprecedented high-throughput, yet flexible single-crystal printing. Individual droplets of MOF precursor solutions are actuated over a matrix of hydrophilic-in-hydrophobic micropatterns for the controlled generation of femtoliter droplets. As such, thousands of monodisperse single MOF crystals are printed per second in a desired pattern, without the use of impractically expensive equipment.

Multi-scale crystal engineering of metal organic frameworks

“…Witters et al [188], Seoane et al [189] and Faustini et al [190] synthesized HKUST-1, MIL-88B(Fe) and the well-known MOFs HKUST-1, MOF-5, IRMOF-3 and UiO-66, respectively, within liquid droplets containing the MOF precursors. Witters et al [188] followed a digital microfluidic approach to obtain different MOF patterns comprising large arrays of monodispersed HKUST-1 crystals. The digital microfluidic system was formed by 2 different plates; the bottom plate, possessing several actuation electrodes coated by a dielectric layer, and the top plate comprising a Teflon ® layer in which hydrophilic-hydrophobic micropatches were patterned.…”

Continuous, One-pot Synthesis and Post-Synthetic Modification of NanoMOFs Using Droplet Nanoreactors

“…To address the challenges of conventional synthesis methods, various droplet-based microfluidic devices have been presented during the past few years29303139444546. These devices offer a number of advantages over conventional batch type reactors.…”

“…Second, the viscous drag at the channel walls creates parabolic velocity profile across the tube that causes variation in residence times, which can affect size and property, composition variation of MOFs. The droplet-based systems which are getting increasingly popular for MOF synthesis have overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks and are applied to a wide range of MOFs29303139444546.…”

Micro Total Analysis Systems: Fundamental Advances and Applications in the Laboratory, Clinic, and Field

“…A polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) device fabricated chitosan microparticles, and then linked these particles together, controlling microparticle arrangement and chain length. 100 Other devices produced and deposited ZnO nanowires 101 or metal-organic frameworks 102 on-chip. Novel devices have also formed continuous solids, such as fibers and complex, elongated structures.…”