1,2,3-Triazolate MOF Nanoparticles With Controlled Polydispersity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for synthesizing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) yield polycrystalline amorphous bulk powders with uncontrolled size and polydispersity, limiting their application in energy storage and electrocatalysis due to lack of control over crystallite size and morphology.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the combination of a metal precursor, a 1,2,3-triazole ligand, and a modulator component in a solvent mixture, heated and stirred to produce MOF nanoparticles with controlled polydispersity and size, forming conductive thin films with enhanced conductivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional synthetic protocols are used to produce MOFs, then bulk polycrystalline amorphous powders are obtained, but control over size and polydispersity of crystallites is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol over size and polydispersityVSAvoidsynthetic protocol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The bulk MOF material is segmented into nanoscale crystallites through controlled synthesis conditions. The use of modulators and specific solvent systems enables the formation of discrete, size-controlled nanocrystallites rather than bulk amorphous powder, achieving segmentation at the nanoscale level with controlled polydispersity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Synthetic parameters are systematically changed to achieve size control: modulator concentration, solvent composition, temperature, and reaction time are optimized to produce nanocrystallites with specific size ranges and controlled polydispersity, transforming the synthesis from bulk formation to controlled nanocrystal growth

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If MOFs are synthesized as bulk amorphous powders, then synthesis is straightforward, but application performance in energy storage and electrocatalysis is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication performanceVSAvoidcrystallite size control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The crystallite size and morphology parameters are changed from bulk amorphous to controlled nanocrystalline form. This parameter change enhances application performance in energy storage and electrocatalysis by increasing surface area, improving mass transport, and providing well-defined active sites while maintaining synthetic feasibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If classic inorganic semiconductor nanoparticles are used, then energy storage applications are enabled, but vulnerability to oxidizing conditions causes dissociation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability under oxidizing conditionsVSAvoidmaterial system limitations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

A composite material system is created combining metal ions coordinated to organic ligands in a MOF structure. This composite approach provides the stability of inorganic materials under oxidizing conditions while maintaining the versatility and tunability of organic materials, preventing dissociation that plagues classic inorganic semiconductor nanoparticles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Manufacturing precision

If RACs are used as alternatives, then amorphous structure provides flexibility, but structural characterization and tuning become challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural tunabilityVSAvoidstructural characterization

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of working with amorphous RACs where structure is difficult to characterize, the approach is inverted to create crystalline or nanocrystalline MOF structures where the ordered arrangement enables precise structural characterization through techniques like XRD, while maintaining the structural tunability needed for optimization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method achieves MOF nanoparticles with reduced polydispersity and increased conductivity, enabling their application in energy storage and electrocatalysis by providing stable, size-dependent properties and improved solution processability.

Implementation Method 1

at least one coordination complex formed between a metal component and a 1,2,3-triazolate ligand

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoordination complex formation: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

heating the reaction mixture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS12043635B2Products comprising 1,2,3-triazolate metal-organic frameworks and methods of making and using the same

Publication Date: 2024.07.23 UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

AI summary

Disclosed herein are embodiments of products comprising 1,2,3-triazolate metal-organic frameworks, including particle, composition, thin film, and device embodiments. Particles made of the 1,2,3-triazolate metal-organic frameworks exhibit unique properties compared to bulk materials, such as reduced polydispersity, increased conductivity, and other properties. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of a method for making particles comprising the 1,2,3-triazolate metal-organic framework and other products comprising the same.