Photoswitchable nanoporous films by loading azobenzene in metal-organic frameworks of type HKUST-1

Chem Commun (Camb). 2017 Jul 13;53(57):8070-8073. doi: 10.1039/c7cc00961e.

Abstract

Photoswitchable metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) enable the dynamic remote control of their key properties. Here, a readily producible approach is presented where photochromic molecules, i.e. azobenzene (AB) and o-tetrafluoroazobenzene (tfAB), are loaded in MOF films of type HKUST-1. These nanoporous films, which can be reversibly switched with UV/visible or only visible light, have remote-controllable guest uptake properties.