Molecular photothermal activation assisted synthesis, and orthogonal assembly of metal-organic-framework

Temperature is a fundamental parameter in any chemical process, affecting reaction rates, selectivity, and more. Typically, chemists think of temperature as a homogeneous property, remaining unchanged throughout the reaction in space and time. Recently, photothermal materials have been emerging as an exciting tool opening new paths for innovative research, challenging the viewpoint described above. Herein, we develop a synthesis and in-situ assembly technique for metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on the distinct heterogeneous heating of photothermal materials under visible light. Notably, a simple cobalt chloride molecular complex was utilized as an efficient and stable light-to-heat converter for initial MOF formation. A thorough investigation of the assembly mechanism revealed the key role photothermal activation had in the formation of the superstructures. Finally, palladium nanoparticles (NP) were utilized as competing photothermal agents shedding light on the dynamics between different heat sources within a reaction and resulting in MOF-NP composites. This work highlights the versatility of the photothermal approach in the synthesis of advanced materials introducing a promising route to the micro/nano assembly of different materials.