Metal-Organic Frameworks for Energy Applications
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have a range of prospective uses such as gas storage, carbon capture, electrocatalysis and redox activity. By altering functional groups on the linkers or exchanging metal atoms in the clusters, their properties can be tuned to increase catalytic or redox activity, or to increase the variety of reactions which can take place within the MOF pores.
Since the first reports of the UiO-66 and UiO-67 MOF families in 2008 (Lillerud et al.), these structures have been noted for their stability, making them good potential candidates for a range of applications. Recent work has shown that defects in UiO-type MOFs can be harnessed to produce new phases, and, in particular, to create two-dimensional nanosheets through the incorporation of directionally-ordered defects.
This project aims to investigate further methods for synthesising dimensionally-controlled MOF frameworks such as nanosheets or nanowires, and improve understanding of their formation and properties via characterisation with NMR and powder diffraction in particular. This can be expanded to MOFs with different organic linkers, leading to exploration of their utility as separating membranes.
This project would therefore include investigation into methods of incorporating the MOF into a membrane or coating, testing its functionality for various applications.
Since the first reports of the UiO-66 and UiO-67 MOF families in 2008 (Lillerud et al.), these structures have been noted for their stability, making them good potential candidates for a range of applications. Recent work has shown that defects in UiO-type MOFs can be harnessed to produce new phases, and, in particular, to create two-dimensional nanosheets through the incorporation of directionally-ordered defects.
This project aims to investigate further methods for synthesising dimensionally-controlled MOF frameworks such as nanosheets or nanowires, and improve understanding of their formation and properties via characterisation with NMR and powder diffraction in particular. This can be expanded to MOFs with different organic linkers, leading to exploration of their utility as separating membranes.
This project would therefore include investigation into methods of incorporating the MOF into a membrane or coating, testing its functionality for various applications.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Clare Grey (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Francesca Firth (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509620/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2022 | |||
| 1943107 | Studentship | EP/N509620/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2021 | Francesca Firth |
| Description | We discovered that it is possible to intentionally generate defects (missing clusters/linkers) within a metal-organic framework (MOF). The spatial location and correlation of these defects can be controlled by changing the synthesis conditions, leading to the formation of new bulk MOF structures: the defects may also have an effect on the acidity or catalytic ability of the framework. Most MOFs are three-dimensional, and recent attempts to create two-dimensional MOFs are mainly multi-step or produce poorly crystalline materials. However, our work on defect-engineering of MOFs allowed us to create highly crystalline and stable MOF nano-sheets directly through a straightforward synthesis. This work on defect-engineering MOFs raises the possibility of harnessing defects to produce new structures and dimensionalities of other MOFs, with new reactive properties. This opens up routes to the production of novel MOF nano-materials for use in applications such as catalysis or membranes for separator films in energy storage devices. This work has also led to an ongoing collaboration investigating the long-range ordering and hence potential growth mechanisms of these defects within the MOF. This understanding will further allow intentional/controlled design of the structure and hence enhanced properties of new MOF materials. |
| Exploitation Route | The understanding of defect-engineering provided by our study will benefit academic research into the intentional design of and synthetic control for new metal-organic framework structures and nanomaterials. The nanomaterials we made may be exploited by academic or industrial researchers for use as, for example, catalysts or separating membranes. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Energy |
| Description | Elizabeth Kolb Memorial Fund travel award |
| Amount | £1,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Elizabeth Kolb Memorial Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2018 |
| End | 12/2018 |
| Description | MOF2018 Conference Registration Bursary |
| Amount | £650 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Royal Society of Chemistry |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2018 |
| End | 12/2018 |
| Description | Travel Award |
| Amount | £500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2018 |
| End | 12/2018 |
| Description | Travel Award |
| Amount | £350 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2018 |
| End | 12/2018 |
| Description | Analytical and Computational Techniques for article "Engineering New Defective Phases of UiO Family Metal-Organic Frameworks with Water" |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Department | Department of Chemistry |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I proposed the study and performed the necessary synthesis of materials and the majority of the characterisation, created an initial model of the materials, and was first-author on the resulting paper. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators performed gas sorption analysis using their equipment and expertise, and performed computer simulations to optimise the model of the materials. |
| Impact | DOI 10.1039/C8TA10682G |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Analytical and Computational Techniques for article "Engineering New Defective Phases of UiO Family Metal-Organic Frameworks with Water" |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I proposed the study and performed the necessary synthesis of materials and the majority of the characterisation, created an initial model of the materials, and was first-author on the resulting paper. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators performed gas sorption analysis using their equipment and expertise, and performed computer simulations to optimise the model of the materials. |
| Impact | DOI 10.1039/C8TA10682G |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Exploring the correlation of defect domains in metal-organic frameworks |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I helped design the study, synthesized the samples, acquired and analysed some of the characterisation data, and helped revise the manuscript. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The principal collaborator proposed and designed the study, collected data on my samples using the main characterisation method, analysed the data, and wrote the manuscript. Another collaborator assisted with analysis of some of my characterisation data. |
| Impact | Paper to be submitted shortly |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Exploring the correlation of defect domains in metal-organic frameworks |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Department | School of Chemistry Leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I helped design the study, synthesized the samples, acquired and analysed some of the characterisation data, and helped revise the manuscript. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The principal collaborator proposed and designed the study, collected data on my samples using the main characterisation method, analysed the data, and wrote the manuscript. Another collaborator assisted with analysis of some of my characterisation data. |
| Impact | Paper to be submitted shortly |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Exploring the correlation of defect domains in metal-organic frameworks |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Department | School of Chemistry Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I helped design the study, synthesized the samples, acquired and analysed some of the characterisation data, and helped revise the manuscript. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The principal collaborator proposed and designed the study, collected data on my samples using the main characterisation method, analysed the data, and wrote the manuscript. Another collaborator assisted with analysis of some of my characterisation data. |
| Impact | Paper to be submitted shortly |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | School Visit (London) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | More than 40 students attended an extracurricular talk I gave at their school, having been invited to present by their Science Society. Sparked interest in energy/green materials and metal-organic frameworks, leading to a very good Q+A and discussion afterwards. The teachers reported increased interest in related subjects and queries about applying for related undergraduate degree courses. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Selwyn Seminar Series presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presented my research as part of the Graduate Seminar Series to other postgraduate students at my college, which sparked interest in my work from senior academics within college. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |