Colóquio 13/03/2026: “Tailoring MOF-74 Structures: Pore Enlargement, Metal Substitution, and Film Formation”

The advancement of society is intrinsically linked to our ability to design new materials that meet the growing demands of emerging technologies. In this context, Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have attracted increasing attention over recent decades, propelled by advances in nanotechnology and coordination chemistry. These materials, built up by metal ions and organic linkers, are distinguished by their high porosity, large surface areas, structural versatility, and crystallinity, which make them excellent candidates for applications in gas storage and separation, catalysis, sensing, drug delivery, and energy conversion systems [1]. The modular architecture of MOFs, based on the coordination of one or more metal centers with diverse organic ligands, enables fine-tuning of key parameters such as pore size, surface chemistry, and topology [2]. Among the more than 12,000 MOF structures registered in the Cambridge Structural Database [3], the MOF-74 family is of particular interest due to its one-dimensional pore channels (1.5–9.0 nm) [4] and secondary building units (SBUs) composed of divalent metals [5]. This work presents novel approaches to the synthesis and structural characterization of MOF-74 frameworks incorporating a series of divalent metals (M = Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Mg²⁺), using the organic linkers 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid (LINKER I) [6,7] and 3,3”-dihydroxy-2′,5′-dimethyl-[1,1′:4′,1”-terphenyl]-4,4”-dicarboxylic acid (LINKER III) [8]. A comprehensive set of material characterization techniques was employed to investigate MOF-74 single crystals and bulk samples, including the decoration of nanoparticles, studies on metal-site substitution (both during synthesis and via post-synthetic modification), and the formation or deposition of MOF-74 films onto various insulating and conductive substrates. These investigations confirmed the preservation of the MOF-74 framework topology across different sample preparations, linker types, and metal compositions, demonstrating high chemical stability. Moreover, variations in morphology and fabrication methods revealed potential pathways for enhancing functional performance.

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Sobre o palestrante: 

Prof. Carlos Basílio Pinheiro é professor no Departamento de Física na Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

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