Expanding dynamic framework materials into COFs through HOF approach

Framework materials at the molecular level, such as metal-organic frameworks (MOF), were recently found to exhibit exotic and counterintuitive micromechanical properties. Stimulated by host-guest interactions, these so-called soft porous crystals can display counterintuitive adsorption phenomena such as negative gas adsorption (NGA). NGA materials are bistable frameworks where the occurrence of a metastable overloaded state leads to pressure amplification upon a sudden framework contraction. How can we control activation barriers and energetics via functionalization of the molecular building blocks that dictate the frameworks’ 30 mechanical response? In this work we tune the elastic and inelastic properties of building blocks at the 31 molecular level and analyze the mechanical response of the resulting frameworks. From a set of 11 frameworks, we demonstrate that widening of the backbone increases elasticity, while elongation of the building blocks results in a decrease in critical yield stress of buckling. We further functionalize the backbone by incorporation of sp3 hybridized carbon atoms to soften the molecular building blocks, or stiffen them with sp2 and sp carbons. Computational modeling shows how these modifications of the building blocks tune the 36 activation barriers within the energy landscape of the guest-free bistable frameworks. Only frameworks with free energy barriers in the range of 800 to 1100 kJ mol–1 37 per unit cell, and moderate yield stress of 0.6 to 38 1.2 nN for single ligand buckling, exhibit adsorption-induced contraction and negative gas adsorption. Advanced experimental in situ methodologies give detailed insights into the structural transitions and the adsorption behavior. The new framework DUT-160 shows the highest magnitude of NGA ever observed for nitrogen adsorption at 77 K. Our computational and experimental analysis of the energetics and mechanical response functions of porous frameworks is an important step towards tuning activation barriers in dynamic framework materials and provides critical design principles for molecular building blocks leading to pressure amplifying materials<br>

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Engineering Micromechanics of Soft Porous Crystals for Negative Gas Adsorption

10.26434/chemrxiv.12619064.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Simon Krause ◽

Jack D. Evans ◽

Volodymyr Bon ◽

Irena Senkovska ◽

Sebastian Ehrling ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Yield Stress ◽

Mechanical Response ◽

Gas Adsorption ◽

Molecular Level ◽

Nitrogen Adsorption ◽

Building Blocks ◽

Activation Barriers ◽

Framework Materials ◽

Dynamic Framework ◽

Molecular Building Blocks

Framework materials at the molecular level, such as metal-organic frameworks (MOF), were recently found to exhibit exotic and counterintuitive micromechanical properties. Stimulated by host-guest interactions, these so-called soft porous crystals can display counterintuitive adsorption phenomena such as negative gas adsorption (NGA). NGA materials are bistable frameworks where the occurrence of a metastable overloaded state leads to pressure amplification upon a sudden framework contraction. How can we control activation barriers and energetics via functionalization of the molecular building blocks that dictate the frameworks’ 30 mechanical response? In this work we tune the elastic and inelastic properties of building blocks at the 31 molecular level and analyze the mechanical response of the resulting frameworks. From a set of 11 frameworks, we demonstrate that widening of the backbone increases elasticity, while elongation of the building blocks results in a decrease in critical yield stress of buckling. We further functionalize the backbone by incorporation of sp3 hybridized carbon atoms to soften the molecular building blocks, or stiffen them with sp2 and sp carbons. Computational modeling shows how these modifications of the building blocks tune the 36 activation barriers within the energy landscape of the guest-free bistable frameworks. Only frameworks with free energy barriers in the range of 800 to 1100 kJ mol–1 37 per unit cell, and moderate yield stress of 0.6 to 38 1.2 nN for single ligand buckling, exhibit adsorption-induced contraction and negative gas adsorption. Advanced experimental in situ methodologies give detailed insights into the structural transitions and the adsorption behavior. The new framework DUT-160 shows the highest magnitude of NGA ever observed for nitrogen adsorption at 77 K. Our computational and experimental analysis of the energetics and mechanical response functions of porous frameworks is an important step towards tuning activation barriers in dynamic framework materials and provides critical design principles for molecular building blocks leading to pressure amplifying materials<br>

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Benchmark of Simplified Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory for UV-Vis Spectral Properties of Porphyrinoids

10.26434/chemrxiv.9912860 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Kamal Batra ◽

Stefan Zahn ◽

Thomas Heine

Keyword(s):

Density Functional Theory ◽

Density Functional ◽

Large Scale ◽

Absolute Error ◽

Time Dependent ◽

Basis Set ◽

Basis Sets ◽

Functional Theory ◽

Framework Materials ◽

Dependent Density

<p>We thoroughly benchmark time-dependent density- functional theory for the predictive calculation of UV/Vis spectra of porphyrin derivatives. With the aim to provide an approach that is computationally feasible for large-scale applications such as biological systems or molecular framework materials, albeit performing with high accuracy for the Q-bands, we compare the results given by various computational protocols, including basis sets, density-functionals (including gradient corrected local functionals, hybrids, double hybrids and range-separated functionals), and various variants of time-dependent density-functional theory, including the simplified Tamm-Dancoff approximation. An excellent choice for these calculations is the range-separated functional CAM-B3LYP in combination with the simplified Tamm-Dancoff approximation and a basis set of double-ζ quality def2-SVP (mean absolute error [MAE] of ~0.05 eV). This is not surpassed by more expensive approaches, not even by double hybrid functionals, and solely systematic excitation energy scaling slightly improves the results (MAE ~0.04 eV). </p>

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