Post-Synthetic Modification of a Metal–Organic Framework Glass

Melt-quenched
metal–organic framework (MOF) glasses have
gained significant interest as the first new category of glass reported
in 50 years. In this work, an amine-functionalized zeolitic imidazolate
framework (ZIF), denoted ZIF-UC-6, was prepared and demonstrated to
undergo both melting and glass formation. The presence of an amine
group resulted in a lower melting temperature compared to other ZIFs,
while also allowing material properties to be tuned by post-synthetic
modification (PSM). As a prototypical example, the ZIF glass surface
was functionalized with octyl isocyanate, changing its behavior from
hydrophilic to hydrophobic. PSM therefore provides a promising strategy
for tuning the surface properties of MOF glasses.