Issue 19, 2018

A porous, electrically conductive hexa-zirconium(iv) metal–organic framework

Abstract

Engendering electrical conductivity in high-porosity metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) promises to unlock the full potential of MOFs for electrical energy storage, electrocatalysis, or integration of MOFs with conventional electronic materials. Here we report that a porous zirconium-node-containing MOF, NU-901, can be rendered electronically conductive by physically encapsulating C60, an excellent electron acceptor, within a fraction (ca. 60%) of the diamond-shaped cavities of the MOF. The cavities are defined by node-connected tetra-phenyl-carboxylated pyrene linkers, i.e. species that are excellent electron donors. The bulk electrical conductivity of the MOF is shown to increase from immeasurably low to 10−3 S cm−1, following fullerene incorporation. The observed conductivity originates from electron donor–acceptor interactions, i.e. charge-transfer interactions – a conclusion that is supported by density functional theory calculations and by the observation of a charge-transfer-derived band in the electronic absorption spectrum of the hybrid material. Notably, the conductive version of the MOF retains substantial nanoscale porosity and continues to display a sizable internal surface area, suggesting potential future applications that capitalize on the ability of the material to sorb molecular species.

Graphical abstract: A porous, electrically conductive hexa-zirconium(iv) metal–organic framework

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
28 Feb 2018
Accepted
11 Apr 2018
First published
11 Apr 2018
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2018,9, 4477-4482

A porous, electrically conductive hexa-zirconium(IV) metal–organic framework

S. Goswami, D. Ray, K. Otake, C. Kung, S. J. Garibay, T. Islamoglu, A. Atilgan, Y. Cui, C. J. Cramer, O. K. Farha and J. T. Hupp, Chem. Sci., 2018, 9, 4477 DOI: 10.1039/C8SC00961A

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