Liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) of functionalized SURMOFs for application in Gas Chromatography

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Roland A. Fischer; Professor Dr. Florian Mertens; Professor Dr. Christof Wöll
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2011 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 203030376

SURMOFs are crystalline, oriented thin films of Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) which are deposited at the surface of given substrates (e.g. modified by Self-assembled organic Monolayers, SAMs) by employing a step by step liquid phase epitaxial growth scheme (i.e. layer by layer growth, lbl). The lbl deposition involves the Controlled SBU Approach (CSA; SBU = Secondary Building Unit). The goal of the project outlined in this proposal is the transfer of the basic results achieved in the first funding period to functionalized MOF thin films for applications in selective adsorption and chromatography. Such fu-SURMOFs (fu = functionalized) may contain suitably chosen side groups at the organic linkers of the framework in order to tailor the adsorption properties for guest molecules or analytes. Various kinds of heterostructures will be fabricated in which the functionality and substitution pattern at the linkers in combination with the deposition sequence and orientation of the MOF layers are varied (multivariate fu-SURMOFs). The structural and adsorption properties of the SURMOFs will be investigated (i.e. adsorption isotherms, diffusion constants of guest molecules). Optimized SAMs and lbl growth conditions, which are particularly suited for the fabrication of SURMOFs on oxide surfaces (e.g. SiO2), will be developed.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1362: Porous Metal-Organic Frameworks
• Major Instrumentation: QCM device for gas adsoption
• Instrumentation Group: 8380 Schichtdickenmeßgeräte, Verdampfungs- und Steuergeräte (für Vakuumbedampfung, außer 833)