Laurent Binet’s research while affiliated with Chimie ParisTech and other places

Spin crossover cations have been successfully synthesized in the pores of the mesoporous robust Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) MIL-100(Al) through sequential introduction of Fe(III) cations and sal2trien ligand. The MIL-100(Al)@Fe(sal2trien) hybrid material retains its crystallinity and a partial porosity compared to the parent MOF. The spin state of the Fe(sal2trien)+ cations can be modulated at room temperature through sorption of guest molecules, paving the way to the design of new generations of sensors based on MOF@spin crossover complexes solids.

Porous titanium oxide materials are attractive for energy-related applications. However, many suffer from poor stability and crystallinity. Here we present a robust nanoporous metal-organic framework (MOF), comprising a Ti12O15 oxocluster and a tetracarboxylate ligand, achieved through a scalable synthesis. This material undergoes an unusual irreversible thermally induced phase transformation that generates a highly crystalline porous product with an infinite inorganic moiety of a very high condensation degree. Preliminary photophysical experiments indicate that the product after phase transformation exhibits photoconductive behavior, highlighting the impact of inorganic unit dimensionality on the alteration of physical properties. Introduction of a conductive polymer into its pores leads to a significant increase of the charge separation lifetime under irradiation. Additionally, the inorganic unit of this Ti-MOF can be easily modified via doping with other metal elements. The combined advantages of this compound make it a promising functional scaffold for practical applications.