Amorphous Metal-Organic Frameworks

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are porous materials traditionally studied in their crystalline form. However, the amorphous state of MOFs (aMOFs) has gained increasing attention due to its unique local defects, which directly influence material properties and potential applications in catalysis, drug delivery, and ion transport. Despite their promise, characterizing amorphous materials remains challenging due to their lack of long-range order. This proposal aims to explore the local structural nature of defects within two aMOF families, MIL-125 (Ti-based) and UiO-66 (Zr-based), using Extended X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) Spectroscopy and X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) analyses. These techniques will provide critical insights into the metal-oxo cluster coordination environments and defect structures, advancing the understanding of structure–property relationships in aMOFs. Our study will utilize the CLAESS beamline for high-resolution XAS experiments at low temperatures, analyzing approximately 32 samples through advanced experimental setups and data modeling with Artemis software. Ultimately, this research aims to elucidate the structural defects of aMOFs and pave the way for their rational design in industrial applications, offering faster and greener synthetic pathways compared to their crystalline counterparts.