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Harnessing Electroactivity in Metal-Organic Frameworks: Fundamentals to Applications

Abstract

Electroactive Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) offer a powerful platform to explore electron transfer phenomena within 3-dimensional coordination space. At the applied level, these materials have enormous potential as the basis for electrocatalysts, porous conductors, batteries and solar energy harvesting systems, amongst numerous other potential applications.¹

This presentation will overview our team’s research in electroactive MOFs that integrate molecular components for electron transfer and their stimuli responsive properties.^2-4 Key to our investigations have been solid-state AC/DC electrochemical methods and near-IR/Vis, EPR, FT-infrared and Raman spectroelectrochemical (SEC) techniques developed in our laboratory,¹ providing powerful in situ probes for the optical and electron transfer characteristics of MOFs. Our experimental work is supported by theoretical and computational modelling, providing insights into the mechanisms and kinetics of charge transfer phenomena.

Harnessing their electroactive properties has enabled us to develop new porous semiconductors, electro- and photo-catalysts, all-optical and photothermal conversion devices, and novel methods for gas separations based on 3D printed MOFs.^5-6 Our latest work with Australian renewables start-up company Southern Green Gas will be described,⁷ including our advances in green synthesis to technoeconomic analysis and 3D printing for prototyping. The context for this interdisciplinary and intersector project within the broader Net Zero Initiative will also be described.

Selected References:

1.    D. M. D’Alessandro, Chem. Commun. 2016, 52, 8957-8971.

2.    R. Murase, T. Hudson, T. Aldershof, K. Nguyen, J. Gluschke, E. Kenny, X. Zhou, T. Wang, M. van Koeverden, B. Powell, A. Micolich, B. Abrahams, D. M. D'Alessandro, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 13242-13253.

3.    D. A. Sherman, R. Murase, S. G. Duyker, Q. Gu, W. Lewis, T. Lu, Y. Liu, D. M. D’Alessandro, Nature Commun. 2020, 11, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15510-7.

4.    C. Hua, P. W. Doheny, B. Ding, B. Chan, M. Yu, D. M. D’Alessandro, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 6622-6630.

5.    T. Wang, R. Sabatini, B. Chan, J. Hou, V. Huynh, N. Proschogo, Z. Xie, L. Gao, J. Zhang, B. Hawkett, R. Clarke, C.J. Kepert, V. Chen, G. Lakhwani, D. M. D’Alessandro, ACS Materials Lett. 2021, 3, 1599-1604.

6.    E. R. Kearns, R. Gillespie, D. M. D’Alessandro, J. Mater. Chem. A 2021, 9, 27252-27270.

7.    D. M. D’Alessandro, The Conversation, 2021, https://theconversation.com/engineers-have-built-machines-to-scrub-co-from-the-air-but-will-it-halt-climate-change-152975