Metal–Organic Frameworks: A Robust Platform for Creating Nanoarchitectured Carbon Materials

Abstract

Metrics & MoreArticle Recommendations CONSPECTUS: Nanoporous carbon (NPC) materials with various architectures have attracted considerable attention because of their distinctive properties and great application potential in environmental remediation, energy conversion and storage, advanced sensors, and other applications. Traditional methods for the synthesis of NPCs, for example, the pyrolysis of natural products or polymers, template-assisted synthesis, and using deep-eutectic solvents, always involve toxic precursors and complex procedures, which greatly hinder further applications. Therefore, it is highly desirable to explore simple and feasible ways to prepare NPCs. Furthermore, to improve the performance and extend the application fields of NPCs, efficient strategies should be developed to regulate the components at the atomic level and construct multidimensional architectures. Metal−organic frameworks (MOFs, also known as porous coordination polymers), which consist of metal ions or clusters and organic ligands, are a new class of porous hybrid materials with reticular structures. As a result, MOFs show interesting characteristics, such as large surface areas, tailored compositions, and structural diversity, which make them ideal platforms for creating functional NPCs. Although significant progress has been made in MOF-derived NPCs with different architectures since the first reported MOF-derived NPC in 2008, this is still an emerging field with inexhaustible potential.In this Account, we highlight the concepts and strategies of our research on MOF-derived NPCs with different architectures, including zero-dimensional (0D) nanopolyhedral, core−shell, and hollow structures, one-dimensional (1D) nanofibers and nanotubes, two-dimensional (2D) nanoflakes and graphene nanomeshes, and three-dimensional (3D) nanoarrays, carbon aerogels, and gradient monoliths. First, we briefly introduce the history of MOFs and discuss their advantages as a platform for the preparation of NPCs. We then summarize the methods for the synthesis of 0D−3D NPCs from MOFs with controllable morphology, composition, and structure. Commonly, two major preparation concepts are involved: direct carbonation of MOFs and pyrolysis of MOF composites. For MOF composites, we have developed (i) electrospinning, (ii) in situ growth, (iii) freeze-drying, and (iv) chemical vapor deposition synthetic strategies for the generation of novel hybrid materials. Additionally, we describe the conversion mechanisms and how to precisely control the architectures in detail. The relationship between the chemical and physical properties of the parent MOFs and derived NPCs is also discussed. The potential applications of MOF-derived NPCs in energy, environmental, and catalysis fields are also demonstrated. Finally, the prospects and challenges for using MOFs as a precursor for designing NPCs are discussed. We believe that this Account will accelerate the development of MOF-derived NPCs and inspire the design and preparation of novel carbon materials.

Engineering Metal–Organic Frameworks with Tunable Colors for High-Performance Wireless Communication

“…Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), − on the other hand, exhibit excellent structure and functionality modularity, color tunability, high porosity, and environmental friendliness. These unique properties make MOFs advantageous in scientific research and real-world applications such as separation science, sensing, and X-ray imaging scintillators. − Since high-performance OWC systems require color converters with high luminous efficiency and fast response time, materials with high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and short luminescent lifetime are desirable for OWC applications.…”

Equipping carbon dots in a defect-containing MOFviaself-carbonization for explosive sensing

“…Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as a new type of crystalline organic-inorganic hybrid porous materials, are regarded as a promising platform for the construction of nanocarbon materials because of their structural diversity as well as regular and adjustable pores. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] The confinement effects of nano/ sub-nanopores or specific binding sites in MOFs can effectively limit the aggregation of carbon structures and stabilize carbon nanostructures. 16,[30][31][32][33][34] The conventional method of preparing CDs with MOFs as templates is pyrolyzing organic solvents or guest molecules captured in MOFs.…”

“…However, for most MOF materials, no obvious carbonization of their host frameworks was observed below their decomposition temperature. 22,25,26 It seems that, since the organic linkers in the MOFs are far away from each other so that they are uncooperative to rearrange and be carbonized, their carbonization is more difficult than that of the dense stacking aggregates of discrete molecules. In other words, it is still a great challenge to construct CDs@MOF composites via self-carbonization of MOFs.…”

MOF Derived Carbon Nanofibers Substrate Supported Polymeric Ultrafiltration Membrane for Efficient Removal of Trace Organic Contaminants

“…Thereinto, sulfate radicals (SO 4 ·– )-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) appear as appealing strategies for the oxidative degradation of TrOCs due to the superiority of high oxidation potential, long half-life, and robust pH adaptability. − Proverbially, rationally designed catalysts dominate the performance of SR-AOPs. Among various heterogeneous catalysts, metal–organic framework (MOF)-derived carbon with tunable sizes, abundant porosity, and accessible active sites has been extensively employed to accelerate the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is essential for the elimination of contaminants. − Zeolite imidazolate frameworks-67 (ZIF-67) is selected as an excellent candidate due to the Co active sites with ultrahigh catalytic performance after pyrolysis. However, the inherent micro- or nanosized nature of MOF-derived carbon materials makes them poor in recycle and prone to agglomerate, which limits their practical application .…”