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Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Author Spotlight: Functionalizing Metal-Organic Frameworks: Advancements, Challenges, and the Power of Post-Synthetic Ligand Exchange
Published on: June 23, 2023
Azobenzene-functionalized metal-organic polyhedra for the optically responsive capture and release of guest molecules
Jinhee Park1, Lin-Bing Sun, Ying-Pin Chen
1Nano Hybrid Technology Research Center, Creative and Fundamental Research Division, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, Changwon, 641-120 (Republic of Korea).
Abstract:
Stimuli-responsive metal-organic polyhedra (srMOPs) functionalized with azobenzene showed UV-irradiation-induced isomerization from the insoluble trans-srMOP to the soluble cis-srMOP, whereas irradiation with blue light reversed this process. Guest molecules were trapped and released upon cis-to-trans and trans-to-cis isomerization of the srMOPs, respectively. This study provides a new direction in the ever-diversifying field of MOPs, while laying the groundwork for a new class of optically responsive materials.

