ToughMOF | Tailoring Metal-Organic Framework Glasses with Higher Fracture Toughness

Summary
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of organic-inorganic hybrid materials with high porosity. Recently, it has been discovered that a subset of MOFs, namely zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), can be melted and quenched into glasses. This makes it possible to prepare bulk, transparent ZIF glasses with modifiable organic and inorganic building units. However, preliminary results have shown that one of the representative ZIF glasses, ZIF-62, exhibits lower fracture toughness than most traditional oxide glasses. This seriously limits the scope of possible ZIF glass applications within, e.g., gas separation and storage.

In the proposed project, we will explore the composition-structure-mechanical property relationship of ZIF glasses. The aim is to optimize the glass composition and structure to achieve improved fracture toughness, while not significantly lowering the strength and stiffness. To this end, we will first systematically vary the ZIF glass structure by tuning the composition, thermal history, and pressure history, in addition to subjecting the glasses to irradiation by heavy ions. Then the mechanical properties of the different glasses will be measured. Finally, these experiments will be complemented by atomistic simulations and machine learning predictions to identify optimized glass structures with improved mechanical performance.

The project builds on complementary expertise of the fellow applicant (atomistic simulations, machine learning) and supervisor (mechanics, MOF glasses). Together with the research and training environment provided by the host organization (Aalborg University, Denmark), this will ensure the achievement of this timely and innovative project as well as the dissemination and exploitation of the expected results. The research outputs will lead to new understanding of fracture behavior of MOF materials. The fellow applicant will emerge from the project with new skills, and the capability to launch his own research group.
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More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101018156
Start date: 01-08-2021
End date: 31-07-2023
Total budget - Public funding: 207 312,00 Euro - 207 312,00 Euro
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Original description

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of organic-inorganic hybrid materials with high porosity. Recently, it has been discovered that a subset of MOFs, namely zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), can be melted and quenched into glasses. This makes it possible to prepare bulk, transparent ZIF glasses with modifiable organic and inorganic building units. However, preliminary results have shown that one of the representative ZIF glasses, ZIF-62, exhibits lower fracture toughness than most traditional oxide glasses. This seriously limits the scope of possible ZIF glass applications within, e.g., gas separation and storage.

In the proposed project, we will explore the composition-structure-mechanical property relationship of ZIF glasses. The aim is to optimize the glass composition and structure to achieve improved fracture toughness, while not significantly lowering the strength and stiffness. To this end, we will first systematically vary the ZIF glass structure by tuning the composition, thermal history, and pressure history, in addition to subjecting the glasses to irradiation by heavy ions. Then the mechanical properties of the different glasses will be measured. Finally, these experiments will be complemented by atomistic simulations and machine learning predictions to identify optimized glass structures with improved mechanical performance.

The project builds on complementary expertise of the fellow applicant (atomistic simulations, machine learning) and supervisor (mechanics, MOF glasses). Together with the research and training environment provided by the host organization (Aalborg University, Denmark), this will ensure the achievement of this timely and innovative project as well as the dissemination and exploitation of the expected results. The research outputs will lead to new understanding of fracture behavior of MOF materials. The fellow applicant will emerge from the project with new skills, and the capability to launch his own research group.

Status

CLOSED

Call topic

MSCA-IF-2020

Update Date

28-04-2024
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Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE
H2020-EU.1.3. EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
H2020-EU.1.3.2. Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
MSCA-IF-2020 Individual Fellowships