Mesoporous Metal–Organic Framework from Templated Synthesis as Mechanical Metamaterials
Tiezhu Liang, Chien Chen, Shinpei Kusaka, Suhail K. Siddique, Cheng‐Yen Chang, Ryotaro Matsuda, Rong‐Ming Ho
Abstract
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide This work aims to demonstrate the fabrication of a mesoporous metal–organic framework (MOF) via templated synthesis using a self-assembled block copolymer as a template, giving a nanonetwork MOF with enhanced toughness due to the effect of deliberate structuring on mechanical performance (the character of mechanical metamaterials). Polystyrene- b -polydimethylsiloxane (PS- b -PDMS) can self-assemble as a diamond phase, followed by hydrofluoric acid etching of PDMS, giving mesoporous PS as a template for the coordination-driven self-assembly reaction of ZIF-67. After the templated synthesis of ZIF-67, followed by removal of the PS template, diamond-structured mesoporous ZIF-67 with faceted texture can be obtained due to the confined growth of ZIF-67 as a single crystal. The deliberate structuring with the nanonetwork struts of the mesoporous ZIF-67 single crystal gives a significant improvement in energy dissipation capability with a brittle-to-ductile transition, as evidenced by nanoindentation tests, offering promising catalytic applications by improving the accessible active sites in mesoporous MOF and material toughness due to the nanonetwork structure.