UiO-66 is an archetypal zirconium-based metal−organic framework (MOF) that is constructed from hexanuclear zirconium oxide clusters as secondary building units (SBUs) and 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate (bdc) linkers. For the first time, a room-temperature solution-based synthesis is reported for UiO-66 and several of its derivatives, UiO-66-X (X = NH 2 , OH, or NO 2 ), resulting in materials that are as porous and crystalline as those made at elevated temperatures. In addition, via modulation of the temperature at which UiO-66 is synthesized, the number of defect sites can be varied. It was found through N 2 sorption isotherm analysis and potentiometric acid−base titrations that increasing the synthesis temperature from 25 to 130 °C results in a systematic decrease in the number of defect sites in UiO-66. The results suggest that, with respect to this synthetic procedure, a maximal number of defect sites is achieved [∼1.3 missing linkers per Zr 6 O 4 (OH) 4 (bdc) 6 ] at a temperature of 45 °C.

Zr-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been shown to be excellent catalyst supports in heterogeneous catalysis due to their exceptional stability. Additionally, their crystalline nature affords the opportunity for molecular level characterization of both the support and the catalytically active site, facilitating mechanistic investigations of the catalytic process. We describe herein the installation of Co(II) ions to the Zr6 nodes of the mesoporous MOF, NU-1000, via two distinct routes, namely, solvothermal deposition in a MOF (SIM) and atomic layer deposition in a MOF (AIM), denoted as Co-SIM+NU-1000 and Co-AIM+NU-1000, respectively. The location of the deposited Co species in the two materials is determined via difference envelope density (DED) analysis. Upon activation in a flow of O2 at 230 °C, both materials catalyze the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of propane to propene under mild conditions. Catalytic activity as well as propene selectivity of these two catalysts, however, is different under the same experimental conditions due to differences in the Co species generated in these two materials upon activation as observed by in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy. A potential reaction mechanism for the propane ODH process catalyzed by Co-SIM+NU-1000 is proposed, yielding a low activation energy barrier which is in accord with the observed catalytic activity at low temperature.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are highly versatile materials that find applications in several fields. Highly stable zirconium/hafnium-based MOFs were recently introduced and nowadays represent a rapidly growing family. Their unique and intriguing properties make them privileged materials and outstanding candidates in heterogeneous catalysis, finding use either as catalysts or catalyst supports. Various techniques have been developed to incorporate active species into Zr-MOFs, giving rise to catalysts that often demonstrate higher performances or unusual activity when compared with their homogeneous analogues. Catalytic functions are commonly incorporated at the zirconium-oxide node, at the linker, or encapsulated in the pores. Representative examples are discussed, and advantages in adopting Zr- and Hf-MOFs in catalytic applications are highlighted.

Few-atom cobalt-oxide clusters, when dispersed on a Zr-based metal-organic framework (MOF) NU-1000, have been shown to be active for the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of propane at low temperatures (<230 °C), affording a selective and stable propene production catalyst. In our current work, a series of promoter ions with varying Lewis acidity, including Ni(II), Zn(II), Al(III), Ti(IV) and Mo(VI), are anchored as metal-oxide,hydroxide clusters to NU-1000 followed by Co(II) ion deposition, yielding a series of NU-1000-supported bimetallic-oxo,hydroxo,aqua clusters. Using difference envelope density (DED) analyses, the spatial locations of the promoter ions and catalytic cobalt ions are determined. For all samples, the promoter ions are sited between pairs of Zr nodes along the MOF c-axis, whereas the location of the cobalt ions varies with the promoter ions. These NU-1000-supported bimetallic-oxide clusters are active for propane ODH after thermal activation under O to open a cobalt coordination site and to oxidize Co(II) to Co(III), as evidenced by operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Co K-edge. In accord with the decreasing Lewis acidity of the promoter ion, catalytic activity increases in the following order: Mo(VI) < Ti(IV) < Al(III) < Zn(II) < Ni(II). The finding is attributed to increasing ease of formation of Co(III)-O species and stabilization of a cobalt(III)-oxyl/propane transition state as the Lewis acidity of the promoter ions decreases. The results point to an increasing ability to fine-tune the structure-dependent activity of MOF-supported heterogeneous catalysts. Coupled with mechanistic studies-computational or experimental-this ability may translate into informed prediction of improved catalysts for propane ODH and other chemical reactions.

For the first time, an increasing number of defects were introduced to the metal-organic framework UiO-66-NH in an attempt to understand the structure-activity trade-offs associated with toxic chemical removal. It was found that an optimum exists with moderate defects for toxic chemicals that react with the linker, whereas those that require hydrolysis at the secondary building unit performed better when more defects were introduced. The insights obtained through this work highlight the ability to dial-in appropriate material formulations, even within the same parent metal-organic framework, allowing for trade-offs between reaction efficiency and mass transfer.