Sol-Gel for Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs)

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) or porous coordination polymers (PCPs) have emerged as an important class of porous materials. This chapter describes the recent synthetic techniques of MOF-containing composites involving ceramics that can be synthesized via sol-gel routes; the benefits such as high-order controlled patterns and architectures, improved production rate, and novel functionality are highlighted. Progress in MOF design and synthesis involving sol-gel routes is showing the potential for rapid achievement of technological goals. The chapter proposes the following topics: composites formed by using MOFs hosting sol-gel-based structures; surface chemical functionalization of sol-gel materials and ceramics for MOF technology; engineered ceramics and hybrid materials for controlled MOF nucleation and growth. Another development is the recent discovery of the conversion from ceramics for fabrication of MOFs. Although this chapter presents examples showing successful implementation of MOF-sol-gel hybrids, much work clearly remains to be done and many surprises to be uncovered.