Acetate exchange mechanism on a Zr12 oxo hydroxo cluster: relevance for reshaping Zr-carboxylate coordination adaptable networks.

The kinetics and mechanism of the acetate ligand exchange with free acetic acid in [Zr6O4(OH)4(O2CCH3)12]2, used as a molecular model of crosslink migration in [Zr6O4(OH)4(carboxylate)12-n(OH)n]-based coordination adaptable networks with vitrimer-like properties, has been thoroughly investigated by dynamic 1H NMR and DFT calculations. The compound maintains its C2h-symmetric Zr12 structure in CD2Cl2 and C6D6, while it splits into its Zr6 subunits in CD3OD and D2O. In the Zr12 structure, the topologically different acetates (3 chelating, 6 belt-bridging, 2 intercluster-bridging and 1 inner-face-bridging) of the Zr6 subunits behave differently in the presence of free CH3COOH: very fast exchange for the chelating (coalesced resonance at room temperature), slower exchange for the belt-bridging (line broadening upon warming), no observable exchange up to 65 °C (by EXSY NMR) for the intercluster- and inner-face-bridging. The rates of the first two exchange processes have zero-order dependence on [CH3COOH]. Variable-temperature line broadening studies yielded ΔH‡ = 15.0 ± 0.4 kcal mol-1, ΔS‡ = 8 ± 1 cal mol-1 K-1 (-30 to +25 °C range in CD2Cl2) for the chelating acetates and ΔH‡ = 22.7 ± 1.6, 22.9 ± 2.1 and 20.6 ± 1.0 kcal mol-1 and ΔS‡ = 13 ± 5, 14 ± 6 and 9 ± 3 cal mol-1 K-1, respectively (+25 to +70 °C range in C6D6), for three distinct resonances of magnetically inequivalent belt-bridging acetates. With support of DFT calculations, these results point to an operationally associative mechanism involving a rate-determining partial dissociation to monodentate acetate, followed by rapid acid coordination and proton transfer. The cluster µ3-OH ligands accelerate the exchange processes through H-bonding stabilization of the coordinatively unsaturated intermediate. The lower exchange barrier for the chelated vs. bridging acetates is associated to the release of ring strain. The results presented in this investigation may help the interpretation of carboxylate exchange phenomena in other systems and the design of new carboxylate-based materials.

Coordination Adaptable Networks: Zirconium(IV) Carboxylates.

Vitrimers are 3D "covalent adaptable networks" (CANs) with flow properties thanks to thermally activated associative exchange reactions. This contribution introduces coordination adaptable networks, or CooANs, that are topologically related to metal-organic frameworks with octahedral Zr6 clusters as secondary building units in a carboxylic acid-functionalized acrylate-methacrylate copolymer matrix. A series of Zr-CooAN-x materials (x=percent of Zr6 loading relative to maximum capacity) was synthesized with x=5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50 and 100. The mechanical and rheological investigations demonstrate vitrimer-like properties for x up to 50, the crosslink migration being ensured by carboxylate ligand exchange, with relaxation becoming slower as the Zr6 content is increased. The flow activation energy of Zr-CooAN-10 is 92.9±3.6 kJ mol-1 . Rapid (30 min) hot-press reshaping occurs at temperatures in the 50-100 °C range under a 3-ton pressure and does not significantly alter the material properties.

Gas sensing behavior of metal-catecholates based MOFs.

We report on the usability aspect of triphenylene ligand-based metal-organic frameworks (MOF) as the potential gas sensing element in chemiresistive devices. Among various possibilities, we explored mono-metallic (Nickel-based) and bi-metallic (Nickel and copper-based) in room temperature gas sensing. Our investigations suggest that the chemiresistive device based on nickel catecholate MOFs were highly sensitive to ethyl alcohol gas in the concentration range of 5-100 ppm with decent sensing parameters such as response time, recovery time, repeatability, stability, etc. We also investigated bimetallic (Nickel and copper) catecholate based MOFs in gas sensing with different metallic content ratios (Cu: Ni:: 60:40 and 40:60). We found that the 1D Cu0.6Ni0.4-CAT nanostructures-based gas sensor to be selective towards H2gas (0.2-7 ppm) at room temperature. We further explored the gas sensing abilities of Cu0.4Ni0.6-CAT based devices, and we found them to be selective towards NO2gas. However, it was not possible to obtain the current versus concentration curve due to the gas molecules' aggressive chemisorption. However, the device could perform well (with a hysteresis error of ∼10%) for detecting NO gas (which has the 2nd best absolute response after NO2). These results indicate that the ratio of metal ions in the MOF directly influences the sensing capabilities. Hence, rational synthetic variations in the metal content in MOF can lead to the design and develop highly selective and sensitive chemiresistive sensors.

Difference in the interaction of nano-diameter rod and tubular particles with a disclination line in a nematic liquid crystal.

In the presence of a disclination line, inclusions within an aligned nematic liquid crystal (LC) are first attracted and ultimately trapped in it. The kind of orientational distortion created by the inclusions is fundamental in determining the trapping. In the present work, we observe differences in the trapping behaviour, onto a ½ defect line in a nematic LC, of two types of particles both elongated but different in their actual geometry. Even if both types have cylindrical shape, aggregates of Mo6S2I8 nanowires (rod-like shape) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (tubular shape, i.e. hollow) trap differently although still due to deformations induced in the LC director field. Attractive forces are stronger on elongated bundles of nanowires than on similarly sized bundles of multi-wall carbon nanotubes. The reason is the difference in the attraction forces originating from different types of distortions of the LCs. The hollow and the full cylinders are not homotopically equivalent and this inequivalence holds also for the liquid crystal around them. The nanowires induce defects in the LC close-by their surfaces as shown for microrods, topologically equivalent to spheres. In contrast, multi-wall carbon nanotubes, being hollow, do not form defects close to their ends. However, the tubes are strongly bent and the strong planar anchoring of LC at the surface induces deformation in the LC enabling attraction forces with the defect line. HiPco single wall carbon nanotubes could not be trapped because their bundles looked much straighter and smaller than the ones of MWCNTs and thus neither defects nor standard strong deformations are expected. In conclusion, even if the shape of both types of particles is cylindrical, the topological difference between rods and tubes has profound consequences on the physical behaviour and on the presence and type of defect-mediated nematic attraction forces.