Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are compounds that with their extended crystalline structure they have the capabilities for many potential uses. One use is that it can be used for gas storage, primarily hydrogen gas. For example by placing these hydrogen molecules inside this crystalline structure of the MOF, it can be used as a source of energy and as a valuable alternative to oil. However, most of the research work that is currently being done this summer will be in synthesizing new metal-organic framework compounds.

In order to develop MOFs, we will be using either one or two metal atoms and synthesizing them with an organic ligand. The metals that will be used are 3d transition metals and 4f lanthanide metals. The preferred ligand will have lone pair of electrons available from nitrogen groups, i.e. pyridine analogs, and other lone pair moieties coming from phosphonates, carboxylates, and sulfonates. One of the advantages of these ligands is the reactivity of the functional groups that are available, making them highly useful reagents.

The synthesis of two distinct metal center reactions can enhance the physical properties of the material with functional pores. This synthesis of heterometal-organic compounds will be with Zn (or Cu) -Ln -pyridinedicarboxylate system (Ln = L, Eu, Gd, Sm). These reactions will be carried out using an autoclave and hydrothermal procedures, temperatures ranging from 100-200ºC. The hypothesis is that the transition metal will bond to the pyridine ring via the nitrogen and the Lanthanide metal will bond with the carboxylate groups. Their structures will be determined using single crystal and powder X-Ray diffraction. One metal center synthesis will be carried out with nickel or cobalt and the ligand to be used is either biphenyldicarboxylate or naphthalenedicarboxylate. Reactions will be run in shorter intervals, usually 1-2 days.

Also we will be studying the changes in various reactions conditions in order to observe and understand their effects on the different phases that will be present. We will be using a variety of concentrations and a range of solvents varying from H₂O to DMF. Other independent factors that will be varied are temperature and time, and we will try to understand the different crystal structure types that will arise from these specific changes.

Other experiments regarding MOFs will be related to the crystals' fluorescence and thermal stability characteristics. The equipment necessary to check fluorescence is a fluorometer. The technique being used for thermal stability will be the thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). This will be used to measure the weight loss over the increase in temperature. This will help us determine the amount of solvent that is present and at what temperature the compound decomposes. Gas sorption analysis will also be done with nitrogen gas to measure the surface area of the materials in question.