Structural insight into the formation of metal-organic gels

Porous materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) capable of reducing both the cost and energy intensity of storing alternative fuels such as hydrogen and natural gas are critically needed in transitioning to a carbon-neutral energy cycle. In this proposal we aim at studying the sol-gel processing of MOFs formation by applying in-situ SAXS/WAXS under the relevant synthetic conditions. Previous SAXS/WAXS data measured for the static gel samples suggested the primary particle size of 5-10nm. We aim to understand the structural evolution and texture of colloidal sols en route to MOF monolith formation, as well as the final structural properties of finished monoliths.