Gas transport through metal-organic framework membranes (MOFs) was switched in situ by applying an external electric field (E-field). The switching of gas permeation upon E-field polarization could be explained by the structural transformation of the zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-8 into polymorphs with more rigid lattices. Permeation measurements under a direct-current E-field poling of 500 volts per millimeter showed reversibly controlled switching of the ZIF-8 into polar polymorphs, which was confirmed by x-ray diffraction and ab initio calculations. The stiffening of the lattice causes a reduction in gas transport through the membrane and sharpens the molecular sieving capability. Dielectric spectroscopy, polarization, and deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance studies revealed low-frequency resonances of ZIF-8 that we attribute to lattice flexibility and linker movement. Upon E-field polarization, we observed a defibrillation of the different lattice motions.

A highly porous member of isoreticular MFU-4-type frameworks, [Zn(5)Cl(4)(BTDD)(3)] (MFU-4l(arge)) (H(2)-BTDD=bis(1H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-b],[4',5'-i])dibenzo[1,4]dioxin), has been synthesized using ZnCl(2) and H(2)-BTDD in N,N-dimethylformamide as a solvent. MFU-4l represents the first example of MFU-4-type frameworks featuring large pore apertures of 9.1 Å. Here, MFU-4l serves as a reference compound to evaluate the origin of unique and specific gas-sorption properties of MFU-4, reported previously. The latter framework features narrow-sized pores of 2.5 Å that allow passage of sufficiently small molecules only (such as hydrogen or water), whereas molecules with larger kinetic diameters (e.g., argon or nitrogen) are excluded from uptake. The crystal structure of MFU-4l has been solved ab initio by direct methods from 3D electron-diffraction data acquired from a single nanosized crystal through automated electron diffraction tomography (ADT) in combination with electron-beam precession. Independently, it has been solved using powder X-ray diffraction. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and variable-temperature X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) experiments carried out on MFU-4l indicate that it is stable up to 500 °C (N(2) atmosphere) and up to 350 °C in air. The framework adsorbs 4 wt % hydrogen at 20 bar and 77 K, which is twice the amount compared to MFU-4. The isosteric heat of adsorption starts for low surface coverage at 5 kJ mol(-1) and decreases to 3.5 kJ mol(-1) at higher H(2) uptake. In contrast, MFU-4 possesses a nearly constant isosteric heat of adsorption of ca. 7 kJ mol(-1) over a wide range of surface coverage. Moreover, MFU-4 exhibits a H(2) desorption maximum at 71 K, which is the highest temperature ever measured for hydrogen physisorbed on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).

We present a comprehensive study of the partially reduced polyoxomolybdate [H 3 Mo 57 V 6 (NO) 6 (2) was isolated as a dark violet solid, which readily dissolves in organic solvents. Slow evaporation of solutions of 2 on solid substrates forces the hydrophobic particles to aggregate into a cubic lattice. Annealing these so-formed films at elevated temperature causes de-wetting with terrace formation similar to liquid crystals and block copolymers. Compound 2 forms a stable Langmuir monolayer at the air ± water interface; Langmuir ± Blodgett multilayers are readily prepared by repeated transfer of monolayers on solid substrates. The films were characterized by optical ellipsometry, Brewster angle microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray reflectance.

Using electrostatic layer-by-layer self-assembly (ELSA), the formation of multilayers with polyelectrolytes and nanoscopic polyoxometalate (POM) clusters of different sizes and charges is investigated. The multilayers are characterized by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, optical ellipsometry, cyclic voltammetry, and atomic force microscopy. In all cases, it is possible to find experimental conditions to achieve irreversible adsorption and regular multilayer deposition. Most importantly, the surface coverage is directly related to the total charge of the POM anion and can be controlled from submonolayer to multilayer coverage by adjusting the ionic strength of the dipping solutions. Imaging the interfaces after POM deposition by atomic force microscopy reveals a granular surface texture with nanometer-sized features. The average interfacial roughness amounts to approximately 1 nm. Cyclic voltammetry indicates that the electrochemical properties of the POM clusters are fully maintained in the polyelectrolyte matrix, which opens a route toward practical applications such as sensors or heterogeneous catalysts. Moreover, the permeability toward electrochemically active probe molecules can be tailored through the multilayer architecture and deposition conditions. Finally, we note that despite the low total charge and comparably small size of the discrete POM anions, the multilayers are remarkably stable. This work provides basic guidelines for the assembly of POM-containing ELSA multilayers and provides detailed insight into characteristic surface coverage, permeability, and electrochemical properties.

Electrochromic devices fabricated by layer‐ by‐layer assembly of europium‐containing polyoxometalate clusters, poly(allylamine hydrochloride), and poly(styrenesulfonate) are investigated (see Figure). A high electrochemical contrast, adequate response time, low operation voltage, and low power consumption are reported. A further advantage of these devices is the potential for automating their fabrication.

Postsynthetic metal and ligand exchange is a versatile approach towards functionalized MFU-4l frameworks. Upon thermal treatment of MFU-4l formates, coordinatively strongly unsaturated metal centers, such as zinc(II) hydride or copper(I) species, are generated selectively. Cu(I)-MFU-4l prepared in this way was stable under ambient conditions and showed fully reversible chemisorption of small molecules, such as O2, N2, and H2, with corresponding isosteric heats of adsorption of 53, 42, and 32 kJ mol(-1), respectively, as determined by gas-sorption measurements and confirmed by DFT calculations. Moreover, Cu(I)-MFU-4l formed stable complexes with C2H4 and CO. These complexes were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy. The demonstrated hydride transfer to electrophiles and strong binding of small gas molecules suggests these novel, yet robust, metal-organic frameworks with open metal sites as promising catalytic materials comprising earth-abundant metal elements.

We describe the spontaneous self-assembly and the superstructure of a discrete surfactant-encapsulated cluster, (DODA) 40 (NH 4 ) 2 [(H 2 O) n ⊂Mo 132 O 372 (CH 3 COO) 30 (H 2 O) 72 ] (2, n ≈ 50), which consists of a hollow giant isopolyoxomolybdate core covered by a hydrophobic shell of dimethyldioctadecylammonium (DODA) cations. The structural characterization of these nanoporous core-shell particles is based on small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data on solutions of the encapsulated clusters, TEM investigations, FT-IR and UV-vis spectroscopy, as well as determination of the molecular area of 2 by Langmuir film investigations. Computer modeling of the solvent-accessible surface of the encapsulated cluster yields a central cavity with a volume of 1.5 nm 3 that is occupied by approximately 50 H 2 O molecules. The cluster bears (Mo-O) 9-ring openings with an average diameter of 0.43 nm. The covered surface area of 84 Å 2 /DODA indicates a rather tight packing of the amphiphile at the cluster surface. Due to the unique supramolecular architecture of 2 as well as its high solubility in common organic solvents, this compound shows promising perspectives for future applications in host-guest chemistry and homogeneous size-selective catalysis.

Two novel metal coordination polymers, [Zn5Cl4(BBTA)3].3 DMF (1), and [ZnCl(BBTA)(0.5)(DMA)] (2) {H2-BBTA = 1H,5H-benzo(1,2-d:4,5-d')bistriazole}, have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions using ZnCl2 and H2-BBTA in DMF (DMF = N,N'-dimethylformamide) or DMA (DMA = N,N'-dimethylacetamide). Moreover, a highly efficient microwave synthetic route has been developed for 1. The structures of both compounds have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 represents the first example of a novel family of cubic microporous metal-organic frameworks (MFU-4; Metal-Organic Framework Ulm University-4), consisting of dianionic BBTA2- linkers and pentanuclear {Zn5Cl4}6+ secondary building units, whereas compound 2 forms a dense 2D layered framework. Phase purity of both compounds was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. TGA and variable temperature XRPD (VTXRPD) experiments carried out on 1 indicate that solvent molecules occluded in the large cavities of 1 can be removed at a temperature >250 degrees C in high vacuum without significant loss of crystallinity, giving rise to a metal-organic framework with void cavities. Due to the small diameter of the aperture joining the two types of cavities present in 1, the diffusion of guest molecules across the crystal lattice is largely restricted at ambient conditions. Compound 1 therefore exhibits a highly selective adsorption for hydrogen vs. nitrogen at -196 degrees C. The framework is stable against moisture and has a specific pore volume of 0.42 cm3 g(-1) estimated from the water adsorption isotherm.