Porous Alkali-Metal-Organic Frameworks – From Synthesis Towards Application

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Sebastian Henke
• Subject Area: Solid State and Surface Chemistry, Material Synthesis ; Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation ; Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
• Term: from 2018 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 415553115

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a family of nanoporous, inorganic-organic coordination compounds, promise great potential for the development of resource and energy efficient technological processes and applications (e.g. in catalysis, carbon capture, gas separation and sensing). These coordination compounds are typically constructed from transition metal ions, which are interconnected by organic linkers, to generate porous framework structures. MOFs based on alkali metal ions are extremely rare, however. This may be reasoned in the variable and less predictable coordination chemistry (coordination number and geometry) of alkali ions, which makes targeted structure design difficult. Porous alkali-metal-organic materials, nevertheless, offer great potential for applications in battery technology and are further of great interest from the viewpoint of fundamental coordination chemistry.In this project, we want to explore such porous alkali-MOFs to partially close the gap to the well-established conventional MOFs, which are constructed from metal ions of the later groups. On the basis of very promising preliminary results, we want to develop a concept for the targeted synthesis of robust, isoreticular, carboxylate-based sodium-MOFs via specific linker design. Besides the detailed characterisation of these novel materials with X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, gas sorption and spectroscopic methods, we further want to evaluate the potential of these sodium-MOFs for applications as electrode materials for sodium ion batteries and as solid electrolytes. Strategic objectives: - Development of the first series of isoreticular sodium-MOFs with variable pore sizes, volumes and functionalities. - Evaluation of sodium-MOFs for applications as active electrode materials for sodium ion batteries.- Development of a facile and efficient mechanochemical synthesis route for porous sodium-MOFs.- Analysis of the ionic conductivity of these materials and improvement of their conductivity via targeted implementation of lattice defects.- Transfer of the synthesis concept from sodium-MOFs to other alkali-MOFs.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Yong Lei, Ph.D.