Assembling metal-organic cages as porous materials

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Metal-organic cages (MOCs) are gaining attention as processable porous materials.
• The discrete molecular nature and surface characteristics of MOCs influence inter-cage interactions and material properties.
• Tuning the physical state of MOC-based materials is crucial for diverse applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a tutorial review on utilizing MOCs as fundamental building blocks.
• To highlight the significance of MOC surface functionalization in controlling material states.
• To explore the potential of MOCs in creating complex, functional porous materials across various length scales.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing literature on MOCs and their applications.
• Discussing the principles of MOC self-assembly and structure-property relationships.
• Analyzing the impact of surface functionalization on MOC assembly and resulting material phases.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated that MOCs can be employed as core units for constructing porous materials.
• Showcased how surface functionalization dictates the formation of crystalline solids, soft matter, liquids, and composites.
• Illustrated the tunability of MOC physical states through molecular design.

Conclusions:

• MOCs offer a versatile platform for designing functional porous materials.
• Surface functionalization is a key strategy for controlling the assembly and physical state of MOCs.
• This work lays the foundation for developing sophisticated, multi-length scale porous materials.