Transitional MOFs: Exposing Metal Sites with Porosity for Enhancing Catalytic Reaction Performance.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Transitional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) possess unique properties and diverse applications.
• Designing transitional MOFs with controlled states is crucial for optimizing their performance.
• Existing strategies for MOF synthesis require refinement for precise control over structural and chemical attributes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel modulator-induced strategy for fabricating transitional MOFs.
• To investigate the influence of different modulators on MOF properties.
• To demonstrate the application of these tailored MOFs in catalytic reactions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an esterification reaction to build transitional MOFs with carboxylic ligands.
• Employed various modulators to control exposed metal sites, mesoporous systems, morphologies, and crystallinities.
• Evaluated the catalytic performance of synthesized MOFs in hydrogenation and cycloaddition reactions.

Main Results:

• The modulator-induced strategy successfully controlled MOF properties like porosity and Lewis acid sites.
• A Pt/solid-transitional MOF catalyst with enhanced mesoporosity improved n-hexene hydrogenation conversion.
• A flower-like-transitional MOF catalyst with abundant Lewis acid sites showed superior performance in cycloaddition reactions.

Conclusions:

• The developed modulator-induced strategy offers precise control over transitional MOF fabrication.
• Tailored transitional MOFs exhibit enhanced catalytic activity for specific reactions.
• This approach provides significant inspiration for designing diverse transitional MOFs via controlled chemical reactions.