In Situ Nano-Spectroscopy on Surface-Anchored Metal-Organic Frameworks

Abstract

This PhD Thesis describes the use of nano-infrared spectroscopy to study the growth and functionality of Surface-anchored Metal-Organic Frameworks (SURMOFs). Furthermore, it details the development of in situ Photo-induced Force Microscopy (PiFM) to describe site-specific properties and functionalities within SURMOFs. This technique was applied to the model systems of two archetypal MOFs, namely HKUST-1 and ZIF-8.

Within this framework, this PhD Thesis contains six Chapters. Chapter 1 gives a general introduction into the field of (SUR)MOFs and nano-infrared spectroscopy. Chapter 2 details the use of two types of ex situ nano-IR spectroscopy to study the growth mechanism of HKUST-1 SURMOF. Chapter 3 describes the development of in situ PiFM with D2O as a probe molecule to describe site-specific guest-host interaction within a mixed MOF-ZIF film. Chapter 4 elaborates on the development of in situ PiFM on ZIF-8 to uncover the structure-sensitive sorption and conversion of formaldehyde as probe molecule. Chapter 5 discusses the use of NO as probe molecule in in situ PiFM to distinguish between metal nodes within bimetallic HKUST-1 SURMOF.