Studying Metal Organic Frameworks

 

-Suggests Important Practical Applications in

Gas Storage, Separation, and Catalysis

 

 

A research team that includes Yonsei Professor Yongjae Lee of the Department of Earth System Sciences has published two important papers in American Chemical Society journals on pressure-dependent structural and chemical changes in metal organic frameworks (MOFs). The research was conducted using small compressors and x-ray power diffraction, and it included

the participation of Professor Sunghwa Jeong of Kyungpook National University, Professor Ja-heon Kim of Soongsil University, and Professor Thomas Vogt of the University of South Carolina.

 

MOFs are a new class of crystalline hybrid materials in which inorganic and organic counterparts form single phase crystalline materials; they have a number of potential industrial applications due to their unique properties such as high surface area, large pore volume, high uniform and permanent porosity, and ease of tuning those structure to introduce additional physical and chemical properties.

 

Of their work, Professor Lee stated: “As this research identifies pressuredependent structural and chemical changes in MOFs, it will contribute to increase the potential applications of MOFs for diverse industrial uses.” He added: “I hope this research will be an important stepping-stone towards initiating various pressure-studies utilizing MOFs in the future.”

 

The research has been reported to the journals of the American Chemical Society including Chemistry of Journal and Journal of the American Chemical Society in July and September respectively.

 

 

 

Professor Yongjae Lee (left)