Design and syntheses of functional mofs for environmental applications

Abstract

Metal organic Frameworks MOFs are crystalline porous molecular solids retrofitted from widely explored classical coordination compounds through supramolecular self assembly These solid state materials can be easily modulated through fine tuning of linkers metal guest species thereby rendering precise control over properties Hitherto MOFs are an excellent class of porous materials with potential applications ranging from separation catalysis capture sensing This thesis explores the design syntheses and application studies of neutral nitrogen donor N donor based MOFs with focus towards toxic guest encapsulation In this regard the first chapter describes the general principles of MOFs fabrication with focus towards the neutral nitrogen donor MOFs and its associated properties Thereafter a brief discussion regarding application of MOFs in the field of molecular decoding and toxic analyte capture is presented In the second chapter an interpenetrated luminescent MOF was exploited as molecular decoder for toxic pollutants viz volatile organic compounds VOCs in the vapor phase The material exhibited flexibility in presence of aromatic VOCs along with a characteristic photoluminescent response This was rationalized based on distinct host guest interactions as well as electronic nature of analyte Learning from this host guest response in chapter three we targeted the development of MOF for allyl alcohol sensing that is very hazardous and lethal A luminescent coordination polymer with metal chlorine bond functional site were appended in conjunction with conjugated nature of the framework backbone The material afforded a clear photoluminescent response toward allyl alcohol over other congener alcohols In the second part of the work for the first time we explored the suitability of cationic MOFs as scavengers for oxoanions of selenium and arsenic which are associated with very weak binding affinity In this respect iMOF 1C exhibited an appreciable uptake towards Se VI As V along with a rare single crystal to single