Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrocatalytic Activity Exploration of MOF-74: A Research-Style Laboratory Experiment

Abstract

A research-style laboratory experiment composed of the synthesis of MOF-74 materials, related structural characterization, and the cutting-edge application of electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) has been designed toward advanced undergraduates at East China University of Technology (ECUT). The desired monometallic MOF-74 (Ni-MOF-74 and Co-MOF-74) and bimetallic NiCo-MOF-74 were synthesized by students using cheap raw materials under mild reaction conditions. Students operated the modern instruments to perform powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) applied extensively in chemical research to explore whether the materials were successfully synthesized and the thermal stability under the guidance of the instructor. The electrocatalytic OER activity of bimetallic NiCo-MOF-74 was compared with monometallic Ni-MOF-74 and Co-MOF-74 to explore and understand the bimetallic synergy effect in MOFs materials. This experiment not only enabled students to master the solvothermal method for MOFs synthesis but also provided students the chance to operate several common chemical instruments and master their functions, realizing the application of theoretical knowledge to practice. Most importantly, this experiment helped students realize the importance of MOFs in the electrochemical energy fields and established a sense of teamwork by analyzing and discussing the bimetallic synergy effect in NiCo-MOF-74 for OER catalysis.

Adsorption of a PFAS Utilizing MOF-808: Development of an Undergraduate Laboratory Experiment in a Capstone Course

“…A common theme when developing new laboratories for the undergraduate curriculum is introducing students to exciting, cutting-edge research topics within a particular discipline . As an example, in inorganic chemistry, a rapidly expanding area of research has focused on a class of solid-state materials termed metal–organic frameworks (aka MOFs) and significant effort has been dedicated to introducing these materials into the undergraduate laboratory curriculum. − MOFs are built up from metal-based nodes and organic linkers . Some intriguing features of these materials include the ability to readily modify their components (both the nodes and linkers), their propensity to be crystalline, and the presence of void spaces which has opened up a host of applications centered around the principles of adsorption including catalysis, separation, and filtration …”

From Metal Complexes to BioMOFs: An Experimental Proposal for Teaching Coordination Chemistry Concepts

“…MOFs (BioMOFs or MBioFs) and metal complexes containing glutamic acid have several applications, such as adsorbents, , catalysts, ,, and antimicrobial agents. , The purpose of this work is to present an experimental activity in inorganic chemistry at the undergraduate level that involves transition metals from d 5 to d 10 systems combined with glutamic acid to obtain BioMOFs and metal complexes. These synthesis processes are carried out from the same class of reagents, allowing the approach of traditional concepts of coordination chemistry, such as crystal field splitting, the chelate effect, Pearson acidity/basicity, Jahn–Teller distortion, stability series, and BioMOF class presentation, in addition to practicing interdisciplinarity with knowledge of the amino acid structures, their p K a values, and their different ways of acting as ligands.…”

“…Considering that amino acids can be part of biological systems, MOFs assembled from their combination with biocompatible or non-biocompatible metals belong to the BioMOF and MBioF (metal biomolecule framework) classes. Although there are a variety of proposals for inorganic chemistry experiments involving MOFs, − none of them are specifically focused on BioMOFs or MBioFs. This class of compounds has currently attracted considerable interest because it can be potentially applied to solve important problems such as antimicrobial resistance and disease treatment, for example. − Thus, it is relevant to arouse the interest of the students for this kind of material.…”

“…34 These complexes are difficult to crystallize, making it difficult to resolve their structures. MOFs (BioMOFs or MBioFs) and metal complexes containing glutamic acid have several applications, such as adsorbents, 8,20 catalysts, 21,23,31 and antimicrobial agents. 34,35 The purpose of this work is to present an experimental activity in inorganic chemistry at the undergraduate level that involves transition metals from d 5 to d 10 systems combined with glutamic acid to obtain BioMOFs and metal complexes.…”

Visualizing Pore Packing and Topology in MOFs

“…Publications about MOFs in this journal have primarily concerned synthesis and characterization. − One report was a study of the impact of including material about MOFs as an introduction to authentic research . Another included model building of MOFs using interlocking disks sold as toys to introduce the topology of primary and secondary building units, discussed further below.…”