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It is of considerable interest to prepare weakly ligated, labile ligand (WLLL) nanoparticles for applications in areas such as chemical catalysis. WLLL nanoparticles can be defined as nanoparticles with sufficient, albeit minimal, surface ligands of moderate binding strength to meta-stabilize nanoparticles, initial stabilizer ligands that can be readily replaced by other, desired, more strongly coordinating ligands and removed completely when desired. Herein, we describe WLLL nanoparticles prepared from [Ir(1,5-COD)Cl]2 reduction under H2, in acetone. The results suggest that H+Cl–-stabilized Ir(0)n nanoparticles, herein Ir(0)n·(H+Cl–)a, serve as a WLLL nanoparticle for the preparation of, as illustrative examples, five specific nanoparticle products: Ir(0)n·(Cl–Bu3NH+)a, Ir(0)n·(Cl–Dodec3NH+)a, Ir(0)n·(POct3)0.2n(Cl–H+)b, Ir(0)n·(POct3)0.2n, and the γ-Al2O3-supported heterogeneous catalyst, Ir(0)n·(γ-Al2O3)a(Cl–H+)b. (where a and b vary for the differently ligated nanoparticles; in addition, solvent can ...

Porphyrins are important molecules widely found in nature in the form of enzyme active sites and visible light absorption units. Recent interest in using these functional molecules as building blocks for the construction of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have rapidly increased due to the ease in which the locations of, and the distances between, the porphyrin units can be controlled in these porous crystalline materials. Porphyrin-based MOFs with atomically precise structures provide an ideal platform for the investigation of their structure-function relationships in the solid state without compromising accessibility to the inherent properties of the porphyrin building blocks. This review will provide a historical overview of the development and applications of porphyrin-based MOFs from early studies focused on design and structures, to recent efforts on their utilization in biomimetic catalysis, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, sensing, and biomedical applications.

Chemical warfare agents containing phosphonate ester bonds are among the most toxic chemicals known to mankind. Recent global military events, such as the conflict and disarmament in Syria, have brought into focus the need to find effective strategies for the rapid destruction of these banned chemicals. Solutions are needed for immediate personal protection (for example, the filtration and catalytic destruction of airborne versions of agents), bulk destruction of chemical weapon stockpiles, protection (via coating) of clothing, equipment and buildings, and containment of agent spills. Solid heterogeneous materials such as modified activated carbon or metal oxides exhibit many desirable characteristics for the destruction of chemical warfare agents. However, low sorptive capacities, low effective active site loadings, deactivation of the active site, slow degradation kinetics, and/or a lack of tailorability offer significant room for improvement in these materials. Here, we report a carefully chosen metal-organic framework (MOF) material featuring high porosity and exceptional chemical stability that is extraordinarily effective for the degradation of nerve agents and their simulants. Experimental and computational evidence points to Lewis-acidic Zr(IV) ions as the active sites and to their superb accessibility as a defining element of their efficacy.

An isoreticular series of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with the ftw topology based on zirconium oxoclusters and tetracarboxylate linkers with a planar core (NU-1101 through NU-1104) has been synthesized employing a linker expansion approach. In this series, NU-1103 has a pore volume of 2.91 cc g(-1) and a geometrically calculated surface area of 5646 m(2) g(-1), which is the highest value reported to date for a zirconium-based MOF and among the largest that have been reported for any porous material. Successful activation of the MOFs was proven based on the agreement of pore volumes and BET areas obtained from simulated and experimental isotherms. Critical for practical applications, NU-1103 combines for the first time ultrahigh surface area and water stability, where this material retained complete structural integrity after soaking in water. Pressure range selection for the BET calculations on these materials was guided by the four so-called "consistency criteria". The experimental BET area of NU-1103 was 6550 m(2) g(-1). Insights obtained from molecular simulation suggest that, as a consequence of pore-filling contamination, the BET method overestimates the monolayer loading of NU-1103 by ∼16%.

The hydrolysis of nerve agents is of primary concern due to the severe toxicity of these agents. Using a MOF-based catalyst (UiO-66), we have previously demonstrated that the hydrolysis can occur with relatively fast half-lives of 50 minutes. However, these rates are still prohibitively slow to be efficiently utilized for some practical applications (e.g., decontamination wipes used to clean exposed clothing/skin/vehicles). We thus turned our attention to derivatives of UiO-66 in order to probe the importance of functional groups on the hydrolysis rate. Three UiO-66 derivatives were explored; UiO-66-NO2 and UiO-66-(OH)2 showed little to no change in hydrolysis rate. However, UiO-66-NH2 showed a 20 fold increase in hydrolysis rate over the parent UiO-66 MOF. Half-lives of 1 minute were observed with this MOF. In order to probe the role of the amino moiety, we turned our attention to UiO-67, UiO-67-NMe2 and UiO-67-NH2. In these MOFs, the amino moiety is in close proximity to the zirconium node. We observed that UiO-67-NH2 is a faster catalyst than UiO-67 and UiO-67-NMe2. We conclude that the role of the amino moiety is to act as a proton-transfer agent during the catalytic cycle and not to hydrogen bond or to form a phosphorane intermediate.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) constructed from Zr6-based nodes have recently received considerable attention given their exceptional thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability. Because of this, the structural diversity of Zr6-based MOFs has expanded considerably and in turn given rise to difficulty in their precise characterization. In particular it has been difficult to assign where protons (needed for charge balance) reside on some Zr6-based nodes. Elucidating the precise proton topologies in Zr6-based MOFs will have wide ranging implications in defining their chemical reactivity, acid/base characteristics, conductivity, and chemical catalysis. Here we have used a combined quantum mechanical and experimental approach to elucidate the precise proton topology of the Zr6-based framework NU-1000. Our data indicate that a mixed node topology, [Zr6(μ3-O)4(μ3-OH)4(OH)4 (OH2)4](8+), is preferred and simultaneously rule out five alternative node topologies.

A metal–organic framework (MOF) with high volumetric deliverable capacity for methane was synthesized after being identified by computational screening of 204 hypothetical MOF structures featuring (Zr6O4)(OH)4(CO2)n inorganic building blocks. The predicted MOF (NU-800) has an fcu topology in which zirconium nodes are connected via ditopic 1,4-benzenedipropynoic acid linkers. Based on our computer simulations, alkyne groups adjacent to the inorganic zirconium nodes provide more efficient methane packing around the nodes at high pressures. The high predicted gas uptake properties of this new MOF were confirmed by high-pressure isotherm measurements over a large temperature and pressure range. The measured methane deliverable capacity of NU-800 between 65 and 5.8 bar is 167 cc(STP)/cc (0.215 g/g), the highest among zirconium-based MOFs. High-pressure uptake values of H2 and CO2 are also among the highest reported. These high gas uptake characteristics, along with the expected highly stable structure of NU-80...

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are hybrid porous materials with many potential applications, which intimately depend on the presence of chemical functionality either at the organic linkers and/or at the metal nodes. Functionality that cannot be introduced into MOFs directly via de novo syntheses can be accessed through post-synthesis modification (PSM) on the reactive moieties of the linkers and/or nodes without disrupting the metal-linker bonds. Even more intriguing methods that go beyond PSM are herein termed building block replacement (BBR) which encompasses (i) solvent-assisted linker exchange (SALE), (ii) non-bridging ligand replacement, and (iii) transmetalation. These one-step or tandem BBR processes involve exchanging key structural components of the MOF, which in turn should allow for the evolution of protoMOF structures (i.e., the utilization of a parent MOF as a template) to design MOFs composed of completely new components, presumably via single crystal to single crystal transformations. The influence of building block replacement on the stability and properties of MOFs will be discussed, and some insights into their mechanistic aspects are provided. Future perspectives providing a glimpse into how these techniques can lead to various unexplored areas of MOF chemistry are also presented.

A uniform and crack-free metalorganic framework (MOF) thin film composed of free-standing acicular nanorods was grown on a transparent conducting glass substrate. The MOF thin film exhibits electrochromic switching between yellow and deep blue by means of a one-electron redox reaction at its pyrene-based linkers. The rigid MOF stabilizes the radical cations of the pyrene linkers at positive applied potential, resulting in the reversible color change of the MOF film. The regular and uniform channels of the MOF allow ions to migrate through the entire film. The MOF thin film thus exhibits a remarkable color change and rapid switching rate.

A new functionalization technique, solvent-assisted ligand incorporation (SALI), was developed to efficiently incorporate carboxylate-based functionalities in the Zr-based metal-organic framework, NU-1000. Unlike previous metal node functionalization strategies, which utilize dative bonding to coordinatively unsaturated metal sites, SALI introduces functional groups as charge compensating and strongly bound moieties to the Zr6 node. Utilizing SALI, we have efficiently attached perfluoroalkane carboxylates of various chain lengths (C1-C9) on the Zr6 nodes of NU-1000. These fluoroalkane-functionalized mesoporous MOFs, termed herein SALI-n, were studied experimentally and theoretically as potential CO2 capture materials.

A Cu–carborane-based metal–organic framework (MOF), NU-135, which contains a quasi-spherical para-carborane moiety, has been synthesized and characterized. NU-135 exhibits a pore volume of 1.02 cm3/g and a gravimetric BET surface area of ca. 2600 m2/g, and thus represents the first highly porous carborane-based MOF. As a consequence of the unique geometry of the carborane unit, NU-135 has a very high volumetric BET surface area of ca. 1900 m2/cm3. CH4, CO2, and H2 adsorption isotherms were measured over a broad range of pressures and temperatures and are in good agreement with computational predictions. The methane storage capacity of NU-135 at 35 bar and 298 K is ca. 187 vSTP/v. At 298 K, the pressure required to achieve a methane storage density comparable to that of a compressed natural gas (CNG) tank pressurized to 212 bar, which is a typical storage pressure, is only 65 bar. The methane working capacity (5–65 bar) is 170 vSTP/v. The volumetric hydrogen storage capacity at 55 bar and 77 K is 49 g/L. T...

Nanoparticles supported on high surface area materials are commonly used in many industrially relevant catalytic reactions. This review examines the existing literature of the mechanisms of formation of practical, non-ultra high vacuum, supported-nanoparticle heterogeneous catalysts. Specifically, this review includes: (i) a brief overview of the synthesis of supported-nanoparticles, (ii) an overview of the physical methods for following the kinetics of formation of supported-nanoparticles, and then (iii) a summary of the kinetic and mechanistic studies of the formation of supported nanoparticle catalysts, performed under the traditional synthetic conditions of the gas–solid interface. This review then also discusses (iv) the synthesis, (v) physical methods, and (vi) the extant kinetic and mechanistic studies under the less traditional, less examined conditions of a liquid–solid system. A summary of the main insights from each section of the review is also given. Overall, surprisingly little is known about the mechanism(s) of formation of the desired size, shape and compositionally controlled supported-nanoparticle catalysts.

The availability of efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts is of high importance for solar fuel technologies aimed at reducing future carbon emissions. Even though Pt electrodes are excellent HER electrocatalysts, commercialization of large-scale hydrogen production technology requires finding an equally efficient, low-cost, earth-abundant alternative. Here, high porosity, metal-organic framework (MOF) films have been used as scaffolds for the deposition of a Ni-S electrocatalyst. Compared with an MOF-free Ni-S, the resulting hybrid materials exhibit significantly enhanced performance for HER from aqueous acid, decreasing the kinetic overpotential by more than 200 mV at a benchmark current density of 10 mA cm−2. Although the initial aim was to improve electrocatalytic activity by greatly boosting the active area of the Ni-S catalyst, the performance enhancements instead were found to arise primarily from the ability of the proton-conductive MOF to favourably modify the immediate chemical environment of the sulfide-based catalyst., Hydrogen evolution technologies for a future carbon-free energy economy require efficient catalysts which can be implemented on a large scale. Here, the authors prepare a composite electrode from readily available elements, whereby a metal-organic framework boosts catalytic performance by enabling rapid proton transport.

Herein, we describe a strategy for converting catalytically inactive, highly crystalline nanoparticle superlattices embedded in silica into catalytically active, porous structures through superlattice assembly and calcination. First, a body-centered cubic (bcc) superlattice is synthesized through the assembly of two sets of 5 nm gold nanoparticles chemically modified with DNA bearing complementary sticky end sequences. These superlattices are embedded in silica and calcined at 350 °C to provide access to the catalytic nanoparticle surface sites. The calcined superlattice maintains its bcc ordering and has a surface area of 210 m(2)/g. The loading of catalytically active nanoparticles within the superlattice was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, which revealed that the calcined superlattice contained approximately 10% Au by weight. We subsequently investigate the ability of supported Au nanoparticle superlattices to catalyze alcohol oxidation. In addition to demonstrating that calcined superlattices are effective catalysts for alcohol oxidation, electron microscopy reveals preservation of the crystalline structure of the bcc superlattice following calcination and catalysis. Unlike many bulk nanoparticle catalysts, which are difficult to characterize and susceptible to aggregation, nanoparticle superlattices synthesized using DNA interactions offer an attractive bottom-up route to structurally defined heterogeneous catalysts, where one has the potential to independently control nanoparticle size, nanoparticle compositions, and interparticle spacings.

Using the enzymatic mechanism of phosphoesterase as a template, we were able to modify a metal–organic framework such that the hydrolysis rates were 50 times faster than previously demonstrated with UiO-66., The hydrolysis of nerve agents is of primary concern due to the severe toxicity of these agents. Using a MOF-based catalyst (UiO-66), we have previously demonstrated that the hydrolysis can occur with relatively fast half-lives of 50 minutes. However, these rates are still prohibitively slow to be efficiently utilized for some practical applications (e.g., decontamination wipes used to clean exposed clothing/skin/vehicles). We thus turned our attention to derivatives of UiO-66 in order to probe the importance of functional groups on the hydrolysis rate. Three UiO-66 derivatives were explored; UiO-66-NO2 and UiO-66-(OH)2 showed little to no change in hydrolysis rate. However, UiO-66-NH2 showed a 20 fold increase in hydrolysis rate over the parent UiO-66 MOF. Half-lives of 1 minute were observed with this MOF. In order to probe the role of the amino moiety, we turned our attention to UiO-67, UiO-67-NMe2 and UiO-67-NH2. In these MOFs, the amino moiety is in close proximity to the zirconium node. We observed that UiO-67-NH2 is a faster catalyst than UiO-67 and UiO-67-NMe2. We conclude that the role of the amino moiety is to act as a proton-transfer agent during the catalytic cycle and not to hydrogen bond or to form a phosphorane intermediate.

We designed, synthesized, and characterized a new Zr-based metal-organic framework material, NU-1100, with a pore volume of 1.53 ccg(-1) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of 4020 m(2) g(-1) ; to our knowledge, currently the highest published for Zr-based MOFs. CH4 /CO2 /H2 adsorption isotherms were obtained over a broad range of pressures and temperatures and are in excellent agreement with the computational predictions. The total hydrogen adsorption at 65 bar and 77 K is 0.092 g g(-1) , which corresponds to 43 g L(-1) . The volumetric and gravimetric methane-storage capacities at 65 bar and 298 K are approximately 180 vSTP /v and 0.27 g g(-1) , respectively.