Interwoven Metal-Organic Framework on a Periodic Minimal Surface with Extra-Large Pores

TLDR

Interpenetration has long been a major impediment to achieving stable, porous crystalline structures. The authors propose a strategy to design highly porous, structurally stable networks by assembling metal‑organic building blocks on a triply periodic P‑minimal surface, yielding interwoven frameworks. They synthesized Cu(3)(BTB)(2)(H(2)O)(3) using 4,4′,4″‑benzene‑1,3,5‑triyl‑tribenzoic acid, copper(II) nitrate, and DMF. The resulting MOF‑14 consists of mutually reinforced interwoven frameworks with 16.4‑Å pores that can reversibly sorb large amounts of gases and organic solvents.

Abstract

Interpenetration (catenation) has long been considered a major impediment in the achievement of stable and porous crystalline structures. A strategy for the design of highly porous and structurally stable networks makes use of metal-organic building blocks that can be assembled on a triply periodic P-minimal geometric surface to produce structures that are interpenetrating-more accurately considered as interwoven. We used 4,4',4"-benzene-1,3,5-triyl-tribenzoic acid (H(3)BTB), copper(II) nitrate, and N,N'-dimethylformamide (DMF) to prepare Cu(3)(BTB)(2)(H(2)O)(3). (DMF)(9)(H(2)O)(2) (MOF-14), whose structure reveals a pair of interwoven metal-organic frameworks that are mutually reinforced. The structure contains remarkably large pores, 16.4 angstroms in diameter, in which voluminous amounts of gases and organic solvents can be reversibly sorbed.