Threefold enhanced photodegradation of methylene blue using MgO composite with minimum NdO: finding the sweet spot.

Removal of organic dyes like methylene blue (MB) from industrial effluents serves as potential source of potable water. Photocatalytic degradation using sustainable catalyst is deemed to be an affordable solution. In this work, NdO/MgO nanocomposite with different compositions (1, 3, and 5wt% NdO with MgO) have been achieved using hydrothermal synthesis and characterized extensively.

Nanoarchitectonics Design Strategy of Metal-Organic Framework and Bio-Metal-Organic Framework Composites for Advanced Wastewater Treatment through Adsorption.

Freshwater depletion is an alarm for finding an eco-friendly solution to treat wastewater for drinking and domestic applications. Though several methods like chlorination, filtration, and coagulation-sedimentation are conventionally employed for water treatment, these methods need to be improved as they are not environmentally friendly, rely on chemicals, and are ineffective for all kinds of pollutants. These problems can be addressed by employing an alternative solution that is effective for efficient water treatment and favors commercial aspects.

Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic Framework Mixed-Matrix Membranes as Analytical Devices for the Trace Analysis of Complex Cosmetic Samples in the Assessment of Their Personal Care Product Content.

A device comprising a zirconium-based metal-organic framework (MOF) mixed-matrix membrane (MMM) framed in a plastic holder has been used to monitor the content of personal care products (PCPs) in cosmetic samples. Seven different devices containing the porous frameworks UiO-66, UiO-66-COOH, UiO-67, DUT-52, DUT-67, MOF-801, and MOF-808 in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes were studied. Optimized membranes reach high adsorption capacities of PCPs, up to 12.

Mechanical Properties of Shaped Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have gathered tremendous interest among researchers for their potential applications such as in storage and separation. While some progress has been made towards shaping of MOFs to realize industrial applications, the mechanical properties of MOFs remain more or less unexplored. Over the last decade, this area has witnessed a steady growth in terms of understanding the mechanical stability of MOFs and its consequence on their performance.

Solvent-Induced Control over Breathing Behavior in Flexible Metal-Organic Frameworks for Natural-Gas Delivery.

Finding appropriate stimuli for controlling the breathing behavior of flexible metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is highly challenging. Herein, we report the solvent-induced changes in the particle size and stability of different breathing phases of the MIL-53 series, a group of flexible MOFs. A water/dimethylformamide (DMF) ratio is tuned to synthesize members of the MIL-53 series which have different behaviors.

Hydrazone-based covalent organic frameworks for Lewis acid catalysis.

Hydrazone-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are rich in functional groups but have very limited variety and applications. Herein, two hydroxy-rich hydrazone-based COFs are synthesized in pure water and postsynthetically incorporated with CoII, exhibiting Lewis acid catalytic activity towards cyanosilylation of various aldehydes with size selectivity.

Breathing-induced new phase transition in an MIL-53(Al)-NH metal-organic framework under high methane pressures.

The high pressure methane sorption tests on a flexible metal-organic framework [MIL-53(Al)-NH] reveal a new phase transition to a large pore (lp) phase above 45 bar. The mixed-ligand strategy and pressure cycling tests are suggested to reduce the pressure requirement of such a phase transition for applications in natural gas storage.

Targeted Drug Delivery in Covalent Organic Nanosheets (CONs) via Sequential Postsynthetic Modification.

Covalent organic nanosheets (CONs) have emerged as a new class of functional two-dimensional (2D) porous organic polymeric materials with a high accessible surface, diverse functionality, and chemical stability. They could become versatile candidates for targeted drug delivery. Despite their many advantages, there are limitations to their use for target specific drug delivery.

Toward an Understanding of the Microstructure and Interfacial Properties of PIMs/ZIF-8 Mixed Matrix Membranes.

A study integrating advanced experimental and modeling tools was undertaken to characterize the microstructural and interfacial properties of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) composed of the zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-8 nanoparticles (NPs) and two polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1 and PIM-EA-TB). Analysis probed both the initial ZIF-8/PIM-1 colloidal suspensions and the final hybrid membranes. By combination of dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analytical and imaging techniques with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), the colloidal suspensions were shown to consist mainly of two distinct kinds of particles, namely, polymer aggregates of about 200 nm in diameter and densely packed ZIF-8-NP aggregates of a few 100 nm in diameter with a 3 nm thick polymer top-layer.

Gadolinium(III)-Based Porous Luminescent Metal-Organic Frameworks for Bimodal Imaging.

Gd -based metal-organic frameworks, Gd-pDBI-1 and Gd-pDBI-2, have been synthesized using the linker pDBI (pDBI=1,4-bis(5-carboxy-1H-benzimidazole-2yl)benzene). They exhibited structural diversity due to subtle change in reaction constituents. Owing to the judicious choice of the fluorescent linker, the materials could be used for bimodal imaging (fluorescent and magnetic resonance) and displayed a modest T relaxivity value.

Mechanical downsizing of a gadolinium(III)-based metal-organic framework for anticancer drug delivery.

A Gd(III) -based porous metal-organic framework (MOF), Gd-pDBI, has been synthesized using fluorescent linker pDBI (pDBI=(1,4-bis(5-carboxy-1H-benzimidazole-2-yl)benzene)), resulting in a three-dimensional interpenetrated structure with a one-dimensional open channel (1.9×1.2 nm) filled with hydrogen-bonded water assemblies.

Dissolvable metallohydrogels for controlled release: evidence of a kinetic supramolecular gel phase intermediate.

Two metallohydrogels based on an amino acid-based ligand and Zn(II) salts were synthesized. These hydrogels show an uncommon, reversible, time-dependent transformation from the opaque to transparent state. These hydrogels also exhibit gradual dissolution in water (pH ≤ 7) over time.

Phosphoric acid loaded azo (-N═N-) based covalent organic framework for proton conduction.

Two new chemically stable functional crystalline covalent organic frameworkds (COFs) (Tp-Azo and Tp-Stb) were synthesized using the Schiff base reaction between triformylphloroglucinol (Tp) and 4,4'-azodianiline (Azo) or 4,4'-diaminostilbene (Stb), respectively. Both COFs show the expected keto-enamine form, and high stability toward boiling water, strong acidic, and basic media. H3PO4 doping in Tp-Azo leads to immobilization of the acid within the porous framework, which facilitates proton conduction in both the hydrous (σ = 9.

Amino acid-based multiresponsive low-molecular weight metallohydrogels with load-bearing and rapid self-healing abilities.

A multiresponsive metallohydrogel based on an amino acid-derived low molecular weight (LMW) ligand and a Zn(II) salt was prepared. This hydrogel showed remarkable shape-persistent, self-standing, load-bearing and self-healing properties, which is uncommon in LMW hydrogels.

Crystalline metal-organic frameworks (MOFs): synthesis, structure and function.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of hybrid network supramolecular solid materials comprised of organized organic linkers and metal cations. They can display enormously high surface areas with tunable pore size and functionality, and can be used as hosts for a range of guest molecules. Since their discovery, MOFs have experienced widespread exploration for their applications in gas storage, drug delivery and sensing.

Structural isomerism leading to variable proton conductivity in indium(III) isophthalic acid based frameworks.

Proton conductivity has been studied thoroughly in two isomeric In(III)-isophthalate based MOFs. In-IA-2D-1 is capable of showing proton conductivity (3.4 × 10(-3) S cm(-1)) under humidified conditions (98% RH), whereas In-IA-2D-2 can conduct protons (2.

Salt metathesis in three dimensional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with unprecedented hydrolytic regenerability.

Eight Zn-based porous (1.2 nm) homochiral MOFs (ValZnX, AlaZnX, X = Cl(-), Br(-), HCO2(-) and CH3CO2(-)) were synthesized which possess extremely rare zeolitic (unh) topology. These MOFs show an unprecedented hydrolytic regenerability.

Correlation between coordinated water content and proton conductivity in Ca-BTC-based metal-organic frameworks.

Proton conductivity of five Ca-based MOFs which depends on the amount of water molecules coordinated to the Ca-centres has been reported. These MOFs show high temperature proton conductivity due to the strong hydrogen bonding between the lattice and coordinated water molecules.

Self-assembled one dimensional functionalized metal-organic nanotubes (MONTs) for proton conduction.

Two self-assembled isostructural functionalized metal-organic nanotubes have been synthesized using 5-triazole isophthalic acid (5-TIA) with In(III) and Cd(II). In- and Cd-5TIA possess one-dimensional (1D) nanotubular architecture and show proton conductivity along regular 1D channels, measured as 5.35 × 10(-5) and 3.

Alkali earth metal (Ca, Sr, Ba) based thermostable metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for proton conduction.

Three new alkaline earth metal based MOFs have been synthesized by using 4,4'-sulfobisbenzoic acid (SBBA) and alkaline earth metal salts M(NO(3))(2), M = Ca, Sr, Ba. These MOFs exhibit interesting structural diversity, variable chemical stability as well as proton conductivity.

Reversible phase transformation in proton conducting Strandberg-type POM based metal organic material.

A Cu(II)-phenanthroline connected Strandberg-type polyoxometalate based proton conducting MOF, Cu(3)Mo(5)P(2), that contains one dimensional parallel water channels has been reported. Cu(3)Mo(5)P(2) shows proton conduction at room temperature as well as elevated temperature.

Helical water chain mediated proton conductivity in homochiral metal-organic frameworks with unprecedented zeolitic unh-topology.

Four new homochiral metal-organic framework (MOF) isomers, [Zn(l-L(Cl))(Cl)](H(2)O)(2) (1), [Zn(l-L(Br))(Br)](H(2)O)(2) (2), [Zn(d-L(Cl))(Cl)](H(2)O)(2) (3), and [Zn(d-L(Br))(Br)](H(2)O)(2) (4) [L = 3-methyl-2-(pyridin-4-ylmethylamino)butanoic acid], have been synthesized by using a derivative of L-/D-valine and Zn(CH(3)COO)(2)·2H(2)O. A three-periodic lattice with a parallel 1D helical channel was formed along the crystallographic c-axis. Molecular rearrangement results in an unprecedented zeolitic unh-topology in 1-4.