On-Demand Tunable Electrical Conductance Anisotropy in a MOF-Polymer Composite.

Property optimization through orientation control of metal-organic framework (MOF) crystals that exhibit anisotropic crystal structures continues to garner tremendous interest. Herein, an electric field is utilized to post-synthetically control the orientation of conductive layered Cu3(HHTP)2 (HHTP = 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene) crystals dispersed in an electronically insulating poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) oligomer matrix. Optical and electrical measurements are performed to investigate the impact of the electric field on the alignment of Cu3(HHTP)2 crystals and the formation of aggregated microstructures, which leads to an ≈5000-fold increase in the conductivity of the composite. Notably, the composite thin-films containing aligned Cu3(HHTP)2 crystals exhibit significant conductivity of ≈10-3 S cm-1 despite the low concentration (≈1 wt.%) of conductive Cu3(HHTP)2. The use of an electric field to align Cu3(HHTP)2 crystals can rapidly generate various desired patterns that exhibit on-demand tunable collective charge transport anisotropy. The findings provide valuable insights toward the manipulation and utilization of conductive MOFs with anisotropic crystal structures for various applications such as adhesive electrical interconnects and microelectronics.

Universal Strategy for Inorganic Nanoparticle Incorporation into Mesoporous Liquid Crystal Polymer Particles.

Developing inorganic-organic composite polymers necessitates a new strategy for effectively controlling shape and optical properties while accommodating guest materials, as conventional polymers primarily act as  carriers that transport inorganic substances. Here, a universal approach is introduced utilizing mesoporous liquid crystal polymer particles (MLPs) to fabricate inorganic-organic composites. By leveraging the liquid crystal phase, morphology and optical properties are precisely controlled through the molecular-level arrangement of the host, here monomers. The controlled host material allows the synthesis of inorganic particles within the matrix or accommodation of presynthesized nano-inorganic particles, all while preserving the intrinsic properties of the host material. This composite material surpasses the functional capabilities of the polymer alone by sequentially integrating one or more inorganic materials, allowing for the incorporation of multiple functionalities within a single polymer particle. Furthermore, this approach effectively mitigates the drawbacks associated with guest materials resulting in a substantial enhancement of composite performance. The presented approach is anticipated to hold immense potential for various applications in optoelectronics, catalysis, and biosensing, addressing the evolving demands of the society.

Reactive high-spin iron(IV)-oxo sites through dioxygen activation in a metal-organic framework.

In nature, nonheme iron enzymes use dioxygen to generate high-spin iron(IV)=O species for a variety of oxygenation reactions. Although synthetic chemists have long sought to mimic this reactivity, the enzyme-like activation of O2 to form high-spin iron(IV) = O species remains an unrealized goal. Here, we report a metal-organic framework featuring iron(II) sites with a local structure similar to that in α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases. The framework reacts with O2 at low temperatures to form high-spin iron(IV) = O species that are characterized using in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform, in situ and variable-field Mössbauer, Fe Kß x-ray emission, and nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopies. In the presence of O2, the framework is competent for catalytic oxygenation of cyclohexane and the stoichiometric conversion of ethane to ethanol.

Utilization of Physical Anisotropy in Metal-Organic Frameworks via Postsynthetic Alignment Control with Liquid Crystal.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) represent crystalline materials constructed from combinations of metal and organic units to often yield anisotropic porous structures and physical properties. Postsynthetic methods to align the MOF crystals in bulk remain scarce yet tremendously important to fully utilize their structure-driven intrinsic properties. Herein, we present an unprecedented composite of liquid crystals (LCs) and MOFs and demonstrate the use of nematic LCs to dynamically control the orientation of MOF crystals with exceptional order parameters (as high as 0.965). Unique patterns formed through a facile multidirectional alignment of MOF crystals exhibit polarized fluorescence with the fluorescence intensity of a pattern dependent on the angle of a polarizer, offering potential use in various optical applications such as an optical security label. Further, the alignment mechanism indicates that the method is applicable to numerous combinations of MOFs and LCs, which include UV polymerizable LC monomers used to fabricate free-standing composite films.

Permanent Porosity in the Room-Temperature Magnet and Magnonic Material V(TCNE)2.

Materials that simultaneously exhibit permanent porosity and high-temperature magnetic order could lead to advances in fundamental physics and numerous emerging technologies. Herein, we show that the archetypal molecule-based magnet and magnonic material V(TCNE)2 (TCNE = tetracyanoethylene) can be desolvated to generate a room-temperature microporous magnet. The solution-phase reaction of V(CO)6 with TCNE yields V(TCNE)2·0.95CH2Cl2, for which a characteristic temperature of T* = 646 K is estimated from a Bloch fit to variable-temperature magnetization data. Removal of the solvent under reduced pressure affords the activated compound V(TCNE)2, which exhibits a T* value of 590 K and permanent microporosity (Langmuir surface area of 850 m2/g). The porous structure of V(TCNE)2 is accessible to the small gas molecules H2, N2, O2, CO2, ethane, and ethylene. While V(TCNE)2 exhibits thermally activated electron transfer with O2, all the other studied gases engage in physisorption. The T* value of V(TCNE)2 is slightly modulated upon adsorption of H2 (T* = 583 K) or CO2 (T* = 596 K), while it decreases more significantly upon ethylene insertion (T* = 459 K). These results provide an initial demonstration of microporosity in a room-temperature magnet and highlight the possibility of further incorporation of small-molecule guests, potentially even molecular qubits, toward future applications.

Fabrication of Scratched Nanogrooves for Highly Oriented Cell Alignment and Application as a Wound Healing Dressing.

Using improper wound care materials may cause impaired wound healing, which can involve scar formation and infection. Herein, we propose a facile method to fabricate a cell-alignment scaffold, which can effectively enhance cell growth and migration, leading to the reproduction of cellular arrangements and restoration of tissues. The principle is scratching a diamond lapping film that gives uniaxial nanotopography on substrates. Cells are seeded to follow the geometric cue via contact guidance, resulting in highly oriented cell alignment. Remarkable biocompatibility is also demonstrated by the high cell viability on various substrates. In vivo studies in a wound healing model in mice show that the scratched film supports directed cell guidance on the nanostructure, with significantly reduced wound areas and inhibition of excessive collagen deposition. Rapid recovery of the epidermis and dermis is also shown by histological analyses, suggesting the potential application of the scratching technique as an advanced wound dressing material for effective tissue regeneration.

Racemized photonic crystals for physical unclonable function.

As Internet of Things-based technologies continue to digitalize our society, the development of secure and robust identification systems against evolving adversaries remains a grave challenge. Recently, physical unclonable functions (PUFs) have garnered tremendous scientific interest due to their intrinsic randomness, which makes them difficult to counterfeit. Herein, we present a facile approach for fabricating optical PUFs using spontaneous mirror symmetry breaking of molecular self-assembly. The PUF composed of racemic helical structures that generate chiroptical signals exhibits high encoding capacity (∼1013 000), precise recognition rate, and impressive reconfigurability. The present study demonstrates that the utilization of random symmetry breaking is a promising approach to the design of high-level security systems.

Magnetic ordering through itinerant ferromagnetism in a metal-organic framework.

Materials that combine magnetic order with other desirable physical attributes could find transformative applications in spintronics, quantum sensing, low-density magnets and gas separations. Among potential multifunctional magnetic materials, metal-organic frameworks, in particular, bear structures that offer intrinsic porosity, vast chemical and structural programmability, and the tunability of electronic properties. Nevertheless, magnetic order within metal-organic frameworks has generally been limited to low temperatures, owing largely to challenges in creating a strong magnetic exchange. Here we employ the phenomenon of itinerant ferromagnetism to realize magnetic ordering at TC = 225 K in a mixed-valence chromium(II/III) triazolate compound, which represents the highest ferromagnetic ordering temperature yet observed in a metal-organic framework. The itinerant ferromagnetism proceeds through a double-exchange mechanism, which results in a barrierless charge transport below the Curie temperature and a large negative magnetoresistance of 23% at 5 K. These observations suggest applications for double-exchange-based coordination solids in the emergent fields of magnetoelectrics and spintronics.

A Single-Ion Conducting Borate Network Polymer as a Viable Quasi-Solid Electrolyte for Lithium Metal Batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries have remained a state-of-the-art electrochemical energy storage technology for decades now, but their energy densities are limited by electrode materials and conventional liquid electrolytes can pose significant safety concerns. Lithium metal batteries featuring Li metal anodes, solid polymer electrolytes, and high-voltage cathodes represent promising candidates for next-generation devices exhibiting improved power and safety, but such solid polymer electrolytes generally do not exhibit the required excellent electrochemical properties and thermal stability in tandem. Here, an interpenetrating network polymer with weakly coordinating anion nodes that functions as a high-performing single-ion conducting electrolyte in the presence of minimal plasticizer, with a wide electrochemical stability window, a high room-temperature conductivity of 1.5 × 10-4 S cm-1 , and exceptional selectivity for Li-ion conduction (tLi+ = 0.95) is reported. Importantly, this material is also flame retardant and highly stable in contact with lithium metal. Significantly, a lithium metal battery prototype containing this quasi-solid electrolyte is shown to outperform a conventional battery featuring a polymer electrolyte.

Charge Delocalization and Bulk Electronic Conductivity in the Mixed-Valence Metal-Organic Framework Fe(1,2,3-triazolate)2(BF4) x.

Metal-organic frameworks are of interest for use in a variety of electrochemical and electronic applications, although a detailed understanding of their charge transport behavior, which is of critical importance for enhancing electronic conductivities, remains limited. Herein, we report isolation of the mixed-valence framework materials, Fe(tri)2(BF4) x (tri- = 1,2,3-triazolate; x = 0.09, 0.22, and 0.33), obtained from the stoichiometric chemical oxidation of the poorly conductive iron(II) framework Fe(tri)2, and find that the conductivity increases dramatically with iron oxidation level. Notably, the most oxidized variant, Fe(tri)2(BF4)0.33, displays a room-temperature conductivity of 0.3(1) S/cm, which represents an increase of 8 orders of magnitude from that of the parent material and is one of the highest conductivity values reported among three-dimensional metal-organic frameworks. Detailed characterization of Fe(tri)2 and the Fe(tri)2(BF4) x materials via powder X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and IR and UV-vis-NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopies reveals that the high conductivity arises from intervalence charge transfer between mixed-valence low-spin FeII/III centers. Further, Mössbauer spectroscopy indicates the presence of a valence-delocalized FeII/III species in Fe(tri)2(BF4) x at 290 K, one of the first such observations for a metal-organic framework. The electronic structure of valence-pure Fe(tri)2 and the charge transport mechanism and electronic structure of mixed-valence Fe(tri)2(BF4) x frameworks are discussed in detail.

Electronic effects of ligand substitution on spin crossover in a series of diiminoquinonoid-bridged Fe(II)2 complexes.

A series of four isostructural Fe(II)2 complexes, [(TPyA)2Fe2((X)L)](2+) (TPyA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine; (X)L(2-) = doubly deprotonated form of 3,6-disubstituted-2,5-dianilino-1,4-benzoquinone; X = H, Br, Cl, and F), were synthesized to enable a systematic study of electronic effects on spin crossover behavior. Comparison of X-ray diffraction data for these complexes reveals the sole presence of high-spin Fe(II) at 225 K and mixtures of high-spin and low-spin Fe(II) at 100 K, which is indicative of incomplete spin crossover. In addition, crystal packing diagrams show that these complexes are well-isolated from one another in the solid state, owing primarily to the presence of bulky tetra(aryl)borate counteranions, such that spin crossover is likely not significantly affected by intermolecular interactions. Variable-temperature dc magnetic susceptibility data confirm the structural observations and reveal that 54(1), 56(1), 62(1), and 84(1)% of Fe(II) centers remain high-spin even below 65 K. Moreover, fits to magnetic data provide crossover temperatures of T1/2 = 160(1), 124(1), 121(1), and 110(1) K for X = H, Br, Cl, and F, respectively, along with enthalpies of ΔH = 11.4(3), 8.5(3), 8.3(3), and 7.5(2) kJ/mol, respectively. These parameters decrease with increasing electronegativity of X and thus increasing electron-withdrawing character of (X)L(2-), suggesting that the observed trends originate primarily from inductive effects of X. Moreover, when plotted as a function of the Pauling electronegativity of X, both T1/2 and ΔH undergo a linear decrease. Further analyses of the low-temperature magnetic data and variable-temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy suggest that the incomplete spin crossover behavior in [(TPyA)2Fe2((X)L)](2+) is best described as a transition from purely [FeHS-FeHS] (HS = high-spin) complexes at high temperature to a mixture of [FeHS-FeHS] and [FeHS-FeLS] (LS = low-spin) complexes at low temperature, with the number of [FeHS-FeHS] species increasing with decreasing electron-withdrawing character of (X)L(2-).

An azophenine radical-bridged Fe2 single-molecule magnet with record magnetic exchange coupling.

One-electron reduction of the complex [(TPyA)2Fe(II)2((NPh)L(2-))](2+) (TPyA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, (NPh)LH2 = azophenine = N,N',N",N'''-tetraphenyl-2,5-diamino-1,4-diiminobenzoquinone) affords the complex [(TPyA)2Fe(II)2((NPh)L(3-•))](+). X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy confirm that the reduction occurs on (NPh)L(2-) to give an S = 1/2 radical bridging ligand. Dc magnetic susceptibility measurements demonstrate the presence of extremely strong direct antiferromagnetic exchange between S = 2 Fe(II) centers and (NPh)L(3-•) in the reduced complex, giving an S = 7/2 ground state with an estimated coupling constant magnitude of |J| ≥ 900 cm(-1). Mössbauer spectroscopy and ac magnetic susceptibility reveal that this complex behaves as a single-molecule magnet with a spin relaxation barrier of U(eff) = 50(1) cm(-1). To our knowledge, this complex exhibits by far the strongest magnetic exchange coupling ever to be observed in a single-molecule magnet.