Obtaining structural insights into metal-organic frameworks and covalent organic frameworks using three-dimensional electron diffraction
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Updated: Nov 10, 2026
A Technical Guide for Performing Spectroscopic Measurements on Metal-Organic Frameworks
Published on: April 28, 2023
Lijuan Wang1, Zhehao Huang1,2
1School of Emergent Soft Matter, Center for Electron Microscopy, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510640, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have attracted great interest owing to their high surface areas and tunable pore structures. Understanding their structures at the atomic level is essential for revealing structure-property relationships and exploring their applications. However, many MOFs and COFs are obtained as nanocrystals or polycrystalline powders, making structure determination by conventional X-ray diffraction difficult. Three-dimensional electron diffraction (3D ED) has emerged as a powerful approach for single-crystal structure analysis from nanocrystals. In this review, we summarize recent progress in the application of 3D ED to MOFs and COFs, including discovery and structural determination of new materials, and revealing structural insights such as framework flexibilities, host-guest interactions and dynamic structural behaviors.
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