Sensor materials, MOFs

Quite a comprehensive review of the luminescent properties of MOFs is presented by Cui et al. [242], The outlook is broader than the sensor materials and covers the areas of lighting (MOF-based OLEDs), display materials, and optical devices. 

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as a new class of porous materials, are well-known for high specific surface areas and high porosity that have potential applications in gas storage and separation, catalysis, sensor, and drug delivery (Furukawa et al., 2010). In recent years, the exploration of MOFs as electrode materials for supercapacitors has also been... 

The observation that some of the new MOF compounds, such as MIL-53 (Chapter 7) and other coordination polymers,are highly flexible, and that for some adsorbates the porosity becomes accessible only at elevated adsorbate pressure (Figure 7.12), suggests that these materials could be used as sensors and actuators in response to increases in pressures. It may also be possible to use breathing solids in separations that are dominated by the effects of the fit of molecules within the flexible host. 

In situ assembly is also the preferred method used for obtaining polymer-encapsulated MOFs (Polymer MOF), prepared by pre-adsorbing suitable monomers inside the MOF pores followed by their in situ polymerization [31,33,57,58]. Also in this case, several precedents exist for the preparation of polymers encapsulated inside zeolites or mesoporous silica compounds [59-63]. Applications of such composites materials were long ago anticipated in the fields of electronic/ionic transport materials, optoelectronics, and sensor devices [64], and the emergence of MOFs as novel host materials will surely reactivate the interest in these composites (see for instance. Ref. [8]). 

To facilitate the applications of MOFs in nanotechnological devices, such as sensors, catalysts, and electrodes, the highly ordered microporous MOFs were rationally fabricated as ultrathin films with well-ordered growth direction and film thickness, which opens an important way for their practical applications. As porphyrinic materials have the functions in various aspects. 

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