Novel Organic‐Dehydration Membranes Prepared from Zirconium Metal‐Organic Frameworks

Membranes with outstanding performance that are applicable in harsh environments are needed to broaden the current range of organic dehydration applications using pervaporation. Here, well‐intergrown UiO‐66 metal‐organic framework membranes fabricated on prestructured yttria‐stabilized zirconia hollow fibers are reported via controlled solvothermal synthesis. On the basis of the adsorption–diffusion mechanism, the membranes provide a very high flux of up to ca. 6.0 kg m^?2 h^?1 and excellent separation factor (>45 000) for separating water from i ‐butanol (next‐generation biofuel), furfural (promising biochemical), and tetrahydrofuran (typical organic). This performance, in terms of separation factor, is one to two orders of magnitude higher than that of commercially available polymeric and silica membranes with equivalent flux. It is comparable to the performance of commercial zeolite NaA membranes. Additionally, the membrane remains robust during a pervaporation stability test (≈300 h), including exposure to harsh environments (e.g., boiling benzene, boiling water, and sulfuric acid) where some commercial membranes (e.g., zeolite NaA membranes) cannot survive.     

Biocatalytic Metal‐Organic Framework‐Based Artificial Cells

Artificial cells or cell mimics have drawn significant attention in cell biology and material science in the last decade and its development will provide a powerful toolbox for studying the origin of life and pave the way for novel biomedical applications. Artificial cells and their subcompartments are typically constructed from a semipermeable membrane composed of liposomes, polymersomes, hydrogels, or simply aqueous droplets enclosing bioactive molecules to perform cellular‐mimicking activities such as compartmentalization, communication, metabolism, or reproduction. Despite the rapid progress, concerns regarding their physical stability (e.g., thermal or mechanical) and tunability in membrane permeability have significantly hindered artificial cells systems in real‐life applications. In addition, developing a facile and versatile system that can mimic multiple cellular tasks is advantageous. Here, an ultrastable, multifunctional and stimulus‐responsive artificial cell system is reported. Constructed from metal‐phenolic network membranes enclosing enzyme‐containing metal‐organic frameworks as organelles, the bionic cell system can mimic multiple cellular tasks including molecular transport regulation, cell metabolism, communication and programmed degradation, and significantly extends its stability range across various chemical and physical conditions. It is believed that the development of such responsive cell mimics will have significant potentials for studying cellular reactions and have future applications in biosensing and drug delivery.     

Composite Salt in Porous Metal‐Organic Frameworks for Adsorption Heat Transformation

Adsorptive heat transformation systems such as adsorption thermal batteries and chillers can provide space heating and cooling in a more environmental friendly way. However, their use is still hindered by their relatively poor performances and large sizes due to the limited properties of solid adsorbents. Here, the spray‐drying continuous‐flow synthesis of a new type of solid adsorbents that results from combining metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), such as UiO‐66, and hygroscopic salts, such as CaCl₂ has been reported. These adsorbents, commonly named as composite salt in porous matrix (CSPM) materials, allow improving the water uptake capabilities of MOFs while preventing their dissolution in the water adsorbed; a common characteristic of these salts due to the deliquescence effect. It is anticipated that MOF‐based CSPMs, in which the percentage of salt can be tuned, are promising candidates for thermal batteries and chillers. In these applications, it is showed that a CSPM made of UiO‐66 and CaCl₂ (38% w/w) exhibits a heat storage capacity of 367 kJ kg^?1 , whereas a second CSPM made of UiO‐66 and CaCl₂ (53% w/w) shows a specific cooling power of 631 W kg^?1 and a coefficient of performance of 0.83, comparable to the best solid adsorbents reported so far.     

Visible‐Light Excited Luminescent Thermometer Based on Single Lanthanide Organic Frameworks

Isostructural lanthanide organic frameworks (Me₂NH₂)₃[Ln₃(FDC)₄(NO₃)₄]·4H₂O (Ln = Eu ( 1 ), Gd ( 2 ), Tb ( 3 ), H₂FDC = 9‐fluorenone‐2,7‐dicarboxylic acid), synthesized under solvothermal conditions, feature a Ln‐O‐C rod‐packing 3D framework. Time‐resolved luminescence studies show that in 1 the energy difference between the H₂FDC triplet excited state (17794 cm^?1) and the ⁵D₀ Eu³⁺ level (17241 cm^?1) is small enough to allow a strong thermally activated ion‐to‐ligand back energy transfer. Whereas the emission of the ligand is essentially constant the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ intensity is quenched when the temperature increases from 12 to 320 K, rendering 1 the first single‐lanthanide organic framework ratiometric luminescent thermometer based on ion‐to‐ligand back energy transfer. More importantly, this material is also the first example of a metal organic framework thermometer operative over a wide temperature range including the physiological (12‐320 K), upon excitation with visible light (450 nm).     

Regulating Uniform Li Plating/Stripping via Dual‐Conductive Metal‐Organic Frameworks for High‐Rate Lithium Metal Batteries

Lithium metal anodes show immense scope for application in high‐energy electronics and electric vehicles. Unfortunately, lithium dendrite growth and volume change leading to short lifespan and safety issues severely limit the feasibility of lithium metal batteries. A rational design of metal–organic framework (MOF)‐modified Li metal anode with optimized Li plating/stripping behavior via one‐step carbonization of ZIF‐67 is proposed. Experimental and theoretical simulation results reveal that carbonized MOFs with uniformly dispersed Co nanoparticles in N‐graphene (Co@N‐G) exhibit an electronic/ionic dual‐conductivity and significantly improved affinity with Li, and so serve as an ideal host for dendrite‐free lithium deposition, consequently leading to uniform lithium plating/stripping during cycling. As a result, the anode delivers highly stable cyclic performance with high coulombic efficiency (CE) at ultrahigh current densities (CE = 91.5% after 130 cycles at 10 mA cm^?2, and CE = 90.4% after 80 cycles at 15 mA cm^?2). Moreover, the practical applicability and functionality of such anodes are demonstrated through assembly of Li‐Co@N‐G/NCM full batteries exhibiting a long cycle life of 100 cycles with a high capacity retention of 92% at 1 C.     

Nanoscale Metal‐Organic Frameworks: Synthesis,Biocompatibility, Imaging Applications,and Thermal and Dynamic Therapy of Tumors

Nanoscale metal‐organic frameworks (NMOFs) have attracted increasing attention for biomedical applications due to their large specific surface area, good biocompatibility, adjustable structures, and diverse functions. By choosing appropriate metal ions and ligands, NMOFs can be synthesized and regulated to assist the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, acting as imaging agents, drug carriers, and cancer therapeutic agents. This review summarizes the recent advances of NMOFs in synthesis, biocompatibility, imaging, and applications in cancer therapies. Among these, the term “biocompatibility” is used to outline their various biological characteristics, and it is mainly discussed from the aspects of size and surface properties of NMOFs. The imaging section mainly emphasizes the application advantages of NMOFs as imaging agents in magnetic resonance, computed tomography, and fluorescence imaging. The applications of NMOFs in four cancer therapies, including phototherapy, radiotherapy, microwave therapy, and ultrasonic therapy, are addressed, especially for thermal and dynamic therapy. Finally, the prospects and challenges of NMOFs in imaging and cancer therapies are also discussed.     

Fabrication of Glyco‐Metal‐Organic Frameworks for Targeted Interventional Photodynamic/Chemotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma through Percutaneous Transperitoneal Puncture

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) causes high morbidity and mortality due to a lack of adequate treatments. Cancer treatments have benefited from nanotechnology approaches that integrate multimodal synergistic therapies. A synergistic, minimally invasive strategy of interventional photodynamic therapy (IPDT) and chemotherapy for HCC treatment through percutaneous transperitoneal puncture is disclosed that is based on photosensitive porphyrinic galactose‐modified metal‐organic frameworks (PCN‐224) first used as hepatic targeting and encapsulated with anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX@Gal‐PCN‐224). Real‐time imaging reveals the effective accumulation of the integrated nanosystem in the HCC cells and tumor tissues due to hepatic targeting. Evaluation of the anti‐tumor efficiency of this nanosystem on orthotopic transplantation tumors with the aid of minimally invasive intervention shows a tumor inhibition rate of 98%. The synergistic effects induce high‐level cell apoptosis and tissue necrosis in vitro and in vivo. This bimodal IPDT/chemotherapy strategy holds great potential in the clinical treatment for HCC.     

Self‐Mineralized Photothermal Bacteria Hybridizing with Mitochondria‐Targeted Metal–Organic Frameworks for Augmenting Photothermal Tumor Therapy

A photothermal bacterium (PTB) is reported for tumor‐targeted photothermal therapy (PTT) by using facultative anaerobic bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1 (S. oneidensis MR‐1) to biomineralize palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) on its surface without affecting bacterial activity. It is found that PTB possesses superior photothermal property in near infrared (NIR) regions, as well as preferential tumor‐targeting capacity. Zeolitic imidazole frameworks‐90 (ZIF‐90) encapsulating photosensitizer methylene blue (MB) are hybridized on the surface of living PTB to further enhance PTT efficacy. MB‐encapsulated ZIF‐90 (ZIF‐90/MB) can selectively release MB at mitochondria and cause mitochondrial dysfunction by producing singlet oxygen (¹O₂) under light illumination. Mitochondrial dysfunction further contributes to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis inhibition and heat shock proteins (HSPs) down‐regulated expression. The PTB‐based therapeutic platform of PTB@ZIF‐90/MB demonstrated here will find great potential to overcome the challenges of tumor targeting and tumor heat tolerance in PTT.     

Hollow Mesoporous Carbon Nanocubes: Rigid‐Interface‐Induced Outward Contraction of Metal‐Organic Frameworks

Novel carbon materials derived from metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted much attention, but the commonly inevitable inward contraction during the carbonization process has restricted their structural variety and applications. In this work, a novel rigid‐interface induced outward contraction approach is reported for synthesizing hollow mesoporous carbon nanocubes (HMCNCs) by using ZIF‐8 nanocubes as precursors. HMCNCs exhibit a cubic morphology with the particle sizes slightly larger than ZIF‐8 nanocubes. Due to the unique outward contraction process, uniform carbon nanocubes with a hollow cavity, an outer microporous shell, and an inner mesoporous wall are simultaneously formed with a large pore size (25 nm), high surface area (1085.7 m² g^?1), high porosity (3.77 cm³ g^?1), and high nitrogen content (12.2%). When used as a cathode material for Li–SeS₂ batteries, the HMCNCs deliver a stable capacity of 812.6 mA h g^?1 at 0.2 A g^?1 after 100 cycles and an outstanding rate capability (455.1 mA h g^?1 at 5.0 A g^?1). The findings may pave the way for the construction of distinctive MOF‐derived carbon materials for various applications.     

A Polymetallic Metal‐Organic Framework‐Derived Strategy toward Synergistically Multidoped Metal Oxide Electrodes with Ultralong Cycle Life and High Volumetric Capacity

Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) are very convenient self‐templated precursors toward functional materials with tunable functionalities. Although a huge family of MOFs has been discovered, conventional MOF‐derived strategies are largely limited to the sole MOF source based on a handful of the metal elements. The limitation in structure and functionalities greatly restrains the maximum performance of MOF‐based materials for fulfilling the practical potential. This study reports a polymetallic MOF‐derived strategy for easy synthesis of metal‐oxide‐based nanohybrids with precisely tailored multicomponent active dopants. A variety of MoO₂‐based nanohybrids with synergistical co‐doping of W, Cu, and P are yielded by controlled pyrolysis of tailor‐made polymetallic MOFs. The W doping induces the formation of Mo_x W_1?x O₂ solid solution with better activity. The homogeneous dispersion of Cu nanocrystallites in robust P‐doped carbon skeleton creates a conductive network for fast charge transfer. Boosting by synergistically multidoping effect, the Mo_0.8W_0.2O₂‐Cu@P‐doped carbon nanohybrids with optimized composition exhibit exceptionally long cycle life of 2000 cycles with high capacities but very slow capacity loss (0.043% per cycle), as well as high power output for lithium storage. Remarkably, the co‐doping of heavy W and Cu elements in MoO₂ with high density makes them particularly suitable for high volumetric lithium storage.     

Luminescent Sensing and Catalytic Performances of a Multifunctional Lanthanide‐Organic Framework Comprising a Triphenylamine Moiety

A multifunctional lanthanide‐organic framework Tb? TCA (H₃TCA = tricarboxytriphenylamine) comprising a triphenylamine moiety as an efficient luminescence sensitizer is synthesized by a solvothermal method and structurally characterized. Tb? TCA exhibits lanthanide‐based emission (540 nm) and triphenylamine emission (435 nm) after excitation at 350 nm and works as a luminescent chemosensor towards salicylaldehyde with a sensitivity of 10 ppm under optimized conditions. Tb? TCA features a high concentration of Lewis acid Tb³⁺ sites and Lewis base triphenylamine sites on its internal surfaces; it thus enables both Knoevenagel and cyanosilylation reactions in a size‐selective fashion. The ratiometric fluorescent response towards aldehydes (I₅₄₀/I₄₃₅) demonstrates that the absorption of the porous material is size selective, and the interactions between the aldehyde molecules and the Tb³⁺ ions play a dominant role in the absorption and activation of the aldehyde substrates. In particular, these studies provide opportunities to directly validate the sorption sites and the catalytic mechanism of the multifunctional Ln metal–organic framework material by luminescence.     

Selenium‐Containing Polymer@Metal‐Organic Frameworks Nanocomposites as an Efficient Multiresponsive Drug Delivery System

The development of efficient multiresponsive drug delivery systems (DDSs) to control drug release has been widely explored. Herein, a facile strategy is reported that enables the micelles of the selenium‐containing polymer with the drug to be encapsulated in metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), which serves as multiresponsive drug release by employing the selenium‐containing polymers with redox‐triggered property and the MOFs with pH‐triggered property in DDS. In this case, the micelles of selenium‐containing polymers, as core easily disassembles in the presence of redox agents, can then release the drug in MOFs matrixes. The ZIF‐8 (one type of MOFs) crystal frameworks serving as shell can collapse only under low pH conditions, and the drug can be further released. In the presence of external redox agents as well as the pH stimuli, the prepared nanocomposite (P@ZIF‐8) drug system exhibits the capability of multiresponsive release of the doxorubicin (DOX) and possesses good selectivity in releasing the DOX under low pH conditions instead of normal pH conditions. In addition, the merits of P@ZIF‐8 such as good biocompatibility, multiresponsive release properties, and especially the selective release properties under different pH conditions make the materials highly promising candidates for the realization of controlled drug delivery in tumor tissue systems.     

Dye Encapsulated Metal‐Organic Framework for Warm‐White LED with High Color‐Rendering Index

A strategy by encapsulating organic dyes into the pores of a luminescent metal‐organic framework (MOF) is developed to achieve white‐light‐emitting phosphor. Both the red‐light emitting dye 4‐(p‐dimethylaminostyryl)‐1‐methylpyridinium ( DSM ) and the green‐light emitting dye acriflavine ( AF ) are encapsulated into a blue‐emitting anionic MOF ZJU‐28 through an ion‐exchange process to yield the MOF?dye composite ZJU‐28?DSM/AF . The emission color of the obtained composite can be easily modulated by simply adjusting the amount and component of dyes. With careful adjustment of the relative concentration of the dyes DSM and AF , the resulting ZJU‐28?DSM/AF (0.02 wt% DSM , 0.06 wt% AF ) exhibits a broadband white emission with ideal CIE coordinates of (0.34, 0.32), high color‐rendering index value of 91, and moderate correlated color temperature value of 5327 K. Such a strategy can be easily expanded to other luminescent MOFs and dyes, thus opening a new perspective for the development of white light emitting materials.     

Atomic‐Scale CoOx Species in Metal–Organic Frameworks for Oxygen Evolution Reaction

The activity of electrocatalysts strongly depends on the number of active sites, which can be increased by downsizing electrocatalysts. Single‐atom catalysts have attracted special attention due to atomic‐scale active sites. However, it is a huge challenge to obtain atomic‐scale CoO_x catalysts. The Co‐based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) own atomically dispersed Co ions, which motivates to design a possible pathway to partially on‐site transform these Co ions to active atomic‐scale CoO_x species, while reserving the highly porous features of MOFs. In this work, for the first time, the targeted on‐site formation of atomic‐scale CoO_x species is realized in ZIF‐67 by O₂ plasma. The abundant pores in ZIF‐67 provide channels for O₂ plasma to activate the Co ions in MOFs to on‐site produce atomic‐scale CoO_x species, which act as the active sites to catalyze the oxygen evolution reaction with an even better activity than RuO₂.     

Metal‐Organic Frameworks Derived Nanotube of Nickel–Cobalt Bimetal Phosphides as Highly Efficient Electrocatalysts for Overall Water Splitting

The design of highly efficient, stable, and noble‐metal‐free bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting is critical but challenging. Herein, a facile and controllable synthesis strategy for nickel–cobalt bimetal phosphide nanotubes as highly efficient electrocatalysts for overall water splitting via low‐temperature phosphorization from a bimetallic metal‐organic framework (MOF‐74) precursor is reported. By optimizing the molar ratio of Co/Ni atoms in MOF‐74, a series of Cox Niy P catalysts are synthesized, and the obtained Co4Ni1P has a rare form of nanotubes that possess similar morphology to the MOF precursor and exhibit perfect dispersal of the active sites. The nanotubes show remarkable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalytic performance in an alkaline electrolyte, affording a current density of 10 mA cm^?2 at overpotentials of 129 mV for HER and 245 mV for OER, respectively. An electrolyzer with Co4Ni1P nanotubes as both the cathode and anode catalyst in alkaline solutions achieves a current density of 10 mA cm^?2 at a voltage of 1.59 V, which is comparable to the integrated Pt/C and RuO₂ counterparts and ranks among the best of the metal‐phosphide electrocatalysts reported to date.     

Metal‐Organic Framework Nanofilm for Mechanically Flexible Information Storage Applications

Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), which are formed by association of metal cations or clusters of cations (“nodes”) with soft organic bridging ligands (“linkers”), are a fascinating class of flexible crystalline hybrid materials offering potential strategy for the construction of flexible electronics. In this study, a high‐quality MOF nanofilm, HKUST‐1, on flexible gold‐coated polyethylene terephthalate substrates is fabricated using liquid phase epitaxy approach. Uniform and reproducible resistive switching effect, which can be sustained under the strain of as high as 2.8%, and over the wide temperature range of –70 to +70 °C, is observed for the first time in the all solid‐state Au/HKUST‐1/Au/thin film structures. Through conductive atomic force microscopic and depth‐profiling X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopicanalysis, it is proposed that the electric field‐induced migration of the Cu_­²⁺ ions, which may lead to subsequent pyrolysis of the trimesic acid linkers and thus the formation of highly conducting filaments, could be the possible origin for the observed uniform resistance switching in HKUST‐1 nanofilms.     

Functional Defective Metal‐Organic Coordinated Network of Mesostructured Nanoframes for Enhanced Electrocatalysis

Although defects are traditionally perceived as undesired feature, the prevalence of tenacious low‐coordinated defects can instead give rise to desirable functionalities. Here, a spontaneous etching of mesostructured crystal, cyanide‐bridged cobalt‐iron (CN‐CoFe) organometallic hybrid into atomically crafted open framework that is populated with erosion‐tolerant high surface energy defects is presented. Unprecedently, the distinct mechanistic etching pathway dictated by the mesostructured assembly, bulk defects, and strong intercoordinated cyanide‐bridged hybrid mediates not only formation of excess low‐coordinated defects but also more importantly stabilizes them against prevailing dissolution and migration issues. Clearly, the heteropolynuclear cyanide bonded inorganic mesostructured clusters sanction the restructuring of a new breed of stable organometallic polymorph with 3D accessible structure enclosed by electrochemical active atomic stepped edges and high index facets. The exceptional electrocatalysis performance supports the assertion that defective mesostructured polymorph offers a new material paradigm to synthetically tailor the elementary building block constituents toward functional materials.     

Metal Doped Core–Shell Metal‐Organic Frameworks@Covalent Organic Frameworks (MOFs@COFs) Hybrids as a Novel Photocatalytic Platform

Metal doped core–shell Metal‐Organic Frameworks@Covalent Organic Frameworks (MOFs@COFs) are presented as a novel platform for photocatalysis. A palladium (Pd) doped MOFs@COFs in the form of Pd/TiATA@LZU1 shows excellent photocatalytic performance for tandem dehydrogenation and hydrogenation reactions in a continuous‐flow microreactor and a batch system, indicating the great potential of the metal doped MOFs@COFs as a multifunctional platform for photocatalysis. Explanations for the performance enhancement are elucidated. An integrated dual‐chamber microreactor coupled with the metal doped MOFs@COFs is introduced to demonstrate a concept of an intensified green photochemical process, which can be broadly extended to challenging liquid–gas tandem and cascade reactions.