Case 14833

Electrochemically Induced Synthesis and Surface Deposition and Growth of Crystalline Metal-Organic Frameworks

Keywords:
Electrodeposition, Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), electrochemical base generation, gas separation membrane, thin films

Applications:
Materials for gas storage, gas separation, drug transport, molecular separations, catalysis, or sensors

Problem:
Need to grow MOFs on surfaces to make continuous crack-free membranes

Technology:
The invention describes a novel approach to the growth and synthesis of MOFs that result in direct deposition of MOF crystals and crystalline films on a conductive surface. The approach involves electrochemical generation of base equivalents (such as hydroxide) by the reduction of water, oxoanions, or other reductive processes that increase the local pH near a conductive surface (electrode). The base equivalents (such as hydroxide anions) generated at the cathode deprotonate precursor ligands in the electrolyte solution, which then react with metal cations to form crystallite particles on the conductive surface.

Advantages:

Single step at room temperature, no need for solvothermal conditions

Fast reaction times that can be controlled by varying current density at electroactive surface

Flexible: can take any conductive surface and deposit MOFs composed of any metal ions and organic ligands

Inventors:

Professor Mircea Dincă (Department of Chemistry, MIT)

Minyuan Li (Department of Chemistry, MIT)

Intellectual Property:
US Patent Application Number 13/439355, filed on April 4, 2012

PCT Patent Application Number PCT/US2012/032158, filed on April 4, 2012

Publications:
Li, M.; Dincă, M. "Reductive Electrosynthesis of Crystalline Metal-Organic Frameworks" Journal of the American Chemical Society 2011, 133, 12926-12929.

Last revised: April 29, 2013

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