ABSTRACT
Optical transparency is a critical but often overlooked property of MOFs considered for optical applications and luminescence sensing. Zr-1,4-NDC samples with various crystallite dimensions (35 nm to 100 µm) were prepared and their bulk optical transmittance measured. The nanocrystalline (35 nm) sample exhibited the highest optical transmittance, which boosts the luminescence signal for sensing applications by reducing scattering loss.
ABSTRACT
Because of their extraordinary surface areas and tailorable porosity, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have the potential to be excellent sensors of gas-phase analytes. MOFs with open metal sites are particularly attractive for detecting Lewis basic atmospheric analytes, such as water. Here, we demonstrate that thin films of the MOF HKUST-1 can be used to quantitatively determine the relative humidity (RH) of air using a colorimetric approach. HKUST-1 thin films are spin-coated onto rigid or flexible substrates and are shown to quantitatively determine the RH within the range of 0.1-5% RH by either visual observation or a straightforward optical reflectivity measurement. At high humidity (>10% RH), a polymer/MOF bilayer is used to slow the transport of H2O to the MOF film, enabling quantitative determination of RH using time as the distinguishing metric. Finally, the sensor is combined with an inexpensive light-emitting diode light source and Si photodiode detector to demonstrate a quantitative humidity detector for low humidity environments.
ABSTRACT
Ultra large pore isostructural metal organic frameworks (MOFs) which exhibit both photoluminescence and scintillation properties, were synthesized from trans-4,4'-stilbenedicarboxylic acid (H2L) and trivalent lanthanide (Ln) metal salts under solvothermal conditions (Ln = Er3+ (1) and Tm3+ (2)). This new class of mesoporous materials is a non-interpenetrating network that features ultra-large diamond shaped pores of dimensions with approximate cross-sectional dimensions of 28 Å × 12 Å. The fully deprotonated ligand, L, is isolated and rigidified as it serves as the organic linker component of the MOF structure. Its low density unit cells possess asymmetric units with two crystallographically independent Ln3+ ions in seven coordinate arrangements. A distinct feature of the structure is the bis-bidentate carboxylate groups. They serve as a ligand that coordinates two Ln(iii) ions while each L connects four Ln(iii) ions yielding an exceptionally large diamond-shaped rectangular network. The structure exhibits ligand-based photoluminescence with increased lifetime compared to free stilbene molecules on exposure to UV radiation, and also exhibits strong scintillation characteristics, comprising of both prompt and delayed radioluminescence features, on exposure to ionizing radiation.
ABSTRACT
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline nanoporous materials comprised of organic electron donors linked to metal ions by strong coordination bonds. Applications such as gas storage and separations are currently receiving considerable attention, but if the unique properties of MOFs could be extended to electronics, magnetics, and photonics, the impact on material science would greatly increase. Recently, we obtained "emergent properties," such as electronic conductivity and energy transfer, by infiltrating MOF pores with "guest" molecules that interact with the framework electronic structure. In this Perspective, we define a path to emergent properties based on the Guest@MOF concept, using zinc-carboxylate and copper-paddlewheel MOFs for illustration. Energy transfer and light harvesting are discussed for zinc carboxylate frameworks infiltrated with triplet-scavenging organometallic compounds and thiophene- and fullerene-infiltrated MOF-177. In addition, we discuss the mechanism of charge transport in TCNQ-infiltrated HKUST-1, the first MOF with electrical conductivity approaching conducting organic polymers. These examples show that guest molecules in MOF pores should be considered not merely as impurities or analytes to be sensed but also as an important aspect of rational design.
ABSTRACT
This paper reports an updated parameterization for a CdTe bond order potential. The original potential is a rigorously parameterized analytical bond order potential for ternary the Cd-Zn-Te systems. This potential effectively captures property trends of multiple Cd, Zn, Te, CdZn, CdTe, ZnTe, and Cd(1-x)Zn(x)Te phases including clusters, lattices, defects, and surfaces. It also enables crystalline growth simulations of stoichiometric compounds/alloys from non-stoichiometric vapors. However, the potential over predicts the zinc-blende CdTe lattice constant compared to experimental data. Here, we report a refined analytical Cd-Zn-Te bond order potential parameterization that predicts a better CdTe lattice constant. Characteristics of the second potential are given based on comparisons with both literature potentials and the quantum mechanical calculations.
ABSTRACT
Cd(1-x)Zn(x)Te (CZT) crystals are the leading semiconductors for radiation detection, but their application is limited by the high cost of detector-grade materials. High crystal costs primarily result from property nonuniformity that causes low manufacturing yield. Although tremendous efforts have been made in the past to reduce Te inclusions/precipitates in CZT, this has not resulted in an anticipated improvement in material property uniformity. Moreover, it is recognized that in addition to Te particles, dislocation cells can also cause electric field perturbations and the associated property nonuniformities. Further improvement of the material, therefore, requires that dislocations in CZT crystals be understood and controlled. Here, we use a recently developed CZT bond order potential to perform representative molecular dynamics simulations to study configurations, energies, and mobilities of 29 different types of possible dislocations in CdTe (i.e., x = 1) crystals. An efficient method to derive activation free energies and activation volumes of thermally activated dislocation motion will be explored. Our focus gives insight into understanding important dislocations in the material and gives guidance toward experimental efforts for improving dislocation network structures in CZT crystals.
