This thesis combines solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), chemical synthesis, isotopic enrichment and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations to provide insight into a number of microporous materials. The first class of materials studied is metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), where the presence of paramagnetic ions has a range of effects on the ¹³C NMR spectra, depending on the nature of the ligand-metal interactions. For the Cu²⁺-based MOFs, HKUST-1 and STAM-1, the assignment of the NMR spectra is non-intuitive, and unambiguous assignment requires specific ¹³C labelling of the organic linker species. It is shown that ¹³C NMR spectra of these two MOFs could act as a sensitive probe of the nature of “guest” molecules bound to the Cu²⁺. The second class of materials is aluminophosphates (AlPOs). It is shown that, using a series of relatively simple linear relationships with the crystal structure, the NMR parameters calculated by DFT (with calculation times of several hours) can be predicted, often with experimentally-useful accuracy, in a matter of seconds using the DIStortion analysis COde (DISCO), which is introduced here. The ambient hydration of the AlPO, JDF-2, to AlPO-53(A) is shown to occur slowly, with incomplete hydration after ~3 months. The resulting AlPO-53(A) is disordered and some possible models for this disorder are investigated by DFT. The final class of materials is gallophosphates (GaPOs), particularly GaPO-34 and related materials. The two as-prepared forms of GaPO-34 are characterised by solid-state NMR, and their calcination investigated by TGA and in-situ powder XRD. An unusual dehydrofluorinated intermediate phase is isolated and characterised for the first time by solid-state NMR. The fully calcined material is shown to be stable under anhydrous conditions, but hydrates rapidly in air. The hydrated material is stable under ambient conditions, but collapses upon heating. Partial dehydration without collapse is achieved by gentle heating or room-temperature evacuation. The impurity phases, GaPO₄ berlinite and GaPO-X are investigated by solid-state NMR and, while the structure of GaPO-X remains unknown, much structural information is obtained.

This research aimed to develop new composite membranes using a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1) and metal organic frameworks (MOFs) for use in gas separations. PIM-1 was successfully synthesised using the high temperature method (40 min, 160 oC) and the resulting polymer was cast into membranes. PIM-1 membranes were chemically modified by reacting hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) with the nitrile group of PIM-1 to form HMDA-modified PIM-1 membranes. Surfaces of PIM-1 membranes were also modified by basic hydrolysis to form amide-modified PIM-1 membranes. These polymer materials were characterized by different techniques (GPC, NMR, ATR-IR, TGA, Elemental analysis and nitrogen sorption analysis). In addition, eight MOF materials [MIL-101(Cr), ED-g-MIL-101(Cr), TEPA-g-MIL-101(Cr), MIL-101(Cr)-NH2, MIL-101(Al)-NH2, UiO-66(Zr), UiO-66-NH2 and UiO-66(COOH)2] were successfully synthesized. They were chosen due to having high surface areas and large porosity. These MOF compounds were characterized using PXRD, SEM, TGA, and low pressure N2.Successful PIM-1/MOF MMMs were fabricated utilising PIM-1 and the MOFs outlined above with various loadings. The highest MOF loading achieved was 28.6 wt. %, apart from MIL-101(Cr)-NH2, for which it was 23.1 wt. %, and MIL-101(Al)-NH2, for which it was 19.8 wt. %. The morphology of MMMs was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), proving the dispersion of MOF fillers. Novel PIM-1 supported MOF membranes were successfully prepared by depositing ZIF-8 and HKUST-1 layers on the surfaces of unmodified and modified PIM-1 membranes. These materials were characterized using PXRD, SEM, ATR-IR and SEM-EDX. Gas permeation properties of the MOF/PIM-1 MMMs and PIM-1 supported MOF membranes were determined using a time lag method. Most MMMs tested showed an increase in the permeability and stable selectivity as the MOF amount was increased. However, this was not true for MIL-101(Al)-NH2, where the permeability and selectivity decreased. In contrast, PIM-1 supported ZIF-8 and HKUST-1 membranes caused a sharp decrease in the permeability and increase in the selectivity.

Global warming along with the climate change derived from the World's demand for energy are among the greatest challenges to our society. To tackle climate change issue, research must focus on proposing practical approaches for carbon emissions reduction and environmental remediation. This thesis focuses on carbon dioxide separation mainly from flue gases (major sources of carbon dioxide emissions) using metal organic frameworks (MOFs) to reduce its impact on the global warming hence the climate change. MOFs are a class of crystalline porous adsorbents with structures that attract CO2 selectively and store it in their porous frameworks. Over the course of this PhD research, the fundamental aspects of these materials, as well as their practical applications, have been investigated. For example, the synthesis recipe of copper (II) benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (CuBTC) MOF was improved to deliver a product of high yield ( > 89%) and free of by-product. Also, a mechanism study on the hydrothermal stability CuBTC MOF was carried out under simulated flue gas conditions and delivered the first experimental proof of the decomposition mechanism of CuBTC MOF caused by the water vapour. The fundamental understanding of the stability of materials then motivated the research into the development of a facile method of using an economic functional dopant (i.e. glycine) to strengthen the structure of CuBTC MOF (completely stable towards water vapour), as well as to improve the selectivity of resulting materials to CO2 (by 15% in comparison to the original CuBTC MOF). The suitability of the CuBTC MOF for fixed bed adsorption processes was also assessed using a combined experimental and process simulation method. In addition to the experimental approaches, molecular simulation based on grand canonical Monte Carlo method was also used to understand the effect of structural defects of MOFs on the CO2 adsorption isotherms.

La protection de l’environnement et de la santé humaine représente une préoccupation éthique et scientifique primordiale. Les dioxines/furanes, produits, entre autres, par les processus d’incinération de déchets, font partie des polluants les plus dangereux de par leur stabilité et leur faculté à être bio-accumulés. Les polychlorobenzènes sont souvent référencés comme molécules modèles de ces composés et seront utilisés en tant que tels dans ces travaux de thèse. Grâce à leurs structures microporeuses organisées qui leur confèrent de remarquables capacités d’adsorption, les zéolithes et les Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) représentent des matériaux de choix pour piéger ces polluants organiques. Leur mise en forme sous forme de billes par exemple offre l’avantage de s’affranchir de problèmes tels que le colmatage ou les pertes de charges trop importantes pouvant apparaître pour une application à l’échelle industrielle. C’est pourquoi, cette thèse vise à élaborer et caractériser des adsorbants zéolithiques et de type MOF, de les mettre en forme et d’étudier leurs propriétés d’adsorption vis-à-vis de polychlorobenzènes/dioxines/furanes. L’ensemble des zéolithes et MOFs ont été sélectionnés et préparés de sorte à optimiser leurs caractéristiques structurales, texturales et morphologiques pour les applications ciblées. Une étude sur la mise en forme de la zéolithe de type FAU a conduit à l’élaboration de billes présentant de bonnes propriétés mécanique et d’adsorption. Les différentes mesures d’adsorption de polychlorobenzènes/dioxines/furanes en phases gaz et liquide ont permis de mettre en évidence les meilleurs matériaux pour l’adsorption sélective de ces polluants à l’émission d’usines d’incinération de déchets. / Environmental and human health protection is a scientific and ethical concern. Dioxin/furan compounds, produced from waste incineration process among other, are ones of the most dangerous pollutants due to their stability and ability to bio-accumulate. Polychlorobenzenes are often referred as model molecules of these compounds and will be used as it in this PhD work. Thanks to their microporous organized structures which confer to them remarkable adsorption capacities, zeolites and Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are interesting materials to trap these organic pollutants. Their shaping as beads for example offer the advantage to overcome problems such as clogging or excessive pressure losses that can appear for an industrial application. Therefore, the aim of this PhD is to prepare and characterize zeolite and MOF, to shape them and to study their adsorption properties for polychlorobenzenes/dioxins/furans. All zeolites and MOFs have been selected and prepared in order to optimize their structural, textural and morphological characteristics for the intended application. A study on the shaping of the FAU-type zeolite has allowed the development of beads with good mechanical and adsorption properties. The different polychlorobenzenes/dioxins/furans adsorption tests into gas and liquid phases allowed identifying the best solids for the selective adsorption of these pollutants in waste incineration plant emissions.

This dissertation endeavors to delineate practical paradigms for crystal engineering based upon the understanding of supramolecular chemistry and self-assembly, i.e. the design and synthesis of novel functional crystalline materials. Two basic metal-organic building units, Zn(RCO2)2(py)2 and (L2)M2(RCO2)4 (M = Zn, Cu), as well as nano-scaled secondary building units (nSBUs) that are constructed from Cu2(RCO2)4 are researched and discussed. Design strategies have been developed to propagate these metal-organic synthons into predictable coordination polymer networks. A series of crystal structures, as well as their syntheses and characterization, are presented. This work demonstrates that supramolecular structures can be designed from pre-selected molecular precursors with the consideration of chemical functionalities and geometrical arrangements. The design strategy represents a practical paradigm for the construction of porous materials as well as interesting networks with special topologies. The modular nature of these metal-organic building units introduces a broad impact on the discovery of novel coordination compounds with potential useful properties.

The design of functional materials for specific applications has been an ongoing challenge for scientists aiming to resolve present and future societal needs. A burgeoning interest was awarded to developing methods for the design and synthesis of hybrid materials, which encompass superior functionality via their multi-component system. In this context, Metal-Organic Materials (MOMs) are nominated as a new generation of crystalline solid-state materials, proven to provide attractive features in terms of tunability and versatility in the synthesis process. In strong correlation with their structure, their functions are related to numerous attractive features, with emphasis on gas storage related applications. Throughout the past decade, several design approaches have been systematically developed for the synthesis of MOMs. Their construction from building blocks has facilitated the process of rational design and has set necessary conditions for the assembly of intended networks. Herein, the focus is on utilizing the single-metal-ion based Molecular Building Block (MBB) approach to construct frameworks assembled from predetermined MBBs of the type MNx(CO2)y. These MBBs are derived from multifunctional organic ligands that have at least one N- and O- heterochelate function and which possess the capability to fully saturate the coordination sphere of a single-metal-ion (of 6- or higher coordination number), ensuring rigidity and directionality in the resulting MBBs. Ultimately, the target is on deriving rigid and directional MBBs that can be regarded as Tetrahedral Building Units (TBUs), which in conjunction with appropriate heterofunctional angular ligands are capable to facilitate the construction of Zeolite-like Metal-Organic Frameworks (ZMOFs). ZMOFs represent a unique subset of MOMs, particularly attractive due to their potential for numerous applications, arising from their fully exploitable large and extra-large cavities. The research studies highlighted in this dissertation will probe the validity and versatility of the single-metal-ion-based MBB approach to generate a repertoire of intended MOMs, ZMOFs, as well as novel functional materials constructed from heterochelating bridging ligands. Emphasis will be put on investigating the structure-function relationship in MOMs synthesized via this approach; hydrogen and CO2 sorption studies, ion exchange, guest sensing, encapsulation of molecules, and magnetic measurements will be evaluated.

Owing to the growing demand for enantiopurity in biological and chemical processes, tremendous efforts have been devoted to the synthesis of homochiral metal-organic materials (MOMs) because of their potential applications in chiral separation and asymmetric catalysis. In this dissertation, the synthetic strategies for homochiral MOMs are discussed keeping the focus on their applications. Two distinct approaches have been taken to synthesize chiral structures with different topologies and accessible cavities. The chiral MOMs have been utilized in enantioselective separation of racemates. Chiral variants of the prototypal metal-organic framework MOF-5, δ-CMOF-5 and [lambda]-CMOF-5, have been synthesized by preparing MOF-5 in the presence of L-proline or D-proline, respectively. CMOF-5 crystallizes in chiral space group P213 instead of Fm-3m as exhibited by MOF-5. The phase purity of CMOF-5 was validated by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, TGA, N2 adsorption, microanalysis and solid-state CD. CMOF-5 undergoes a reversible single crystal to single crystal phase change to MOF-5 when immersed in a variety of organic solvents although N-methyl-2-pyrolidone, NMP, does not induce loss of chirality. Indeed, MOF-5 undergoes chiral induction when immersed in NMP, affording racemic CMOF-5. A pair of homochiral network materials (CNMs), [Co2(S-man)2(bpy)3](NO3)2·guests (1S) and [Co2(R-man)2(bpy)3](NO3)2·guests (1R) based upon S-mendelic acid and R-mendelic acid were synthesized and characterized, respectively. The cationic networks contain 1D homochiral channels with the cross section of 8.0 Å × 8.0 Å. The chiral amphiphilic channel surfaces lined with hydrophilic nitrate anions and hydrophobic phenyl groups are capable for multiple interactions with guest species. Chiral resolution of 1-phenyl-1-propanol (PP) enantiomers was performed utilizing the homochiral porosity of 1S and 1R through different time period at different temperatures with/without additives. The mechanism for enantioselective separation of PP was fully investigated through single crystal structural analysis of guest exchanged 1S and 1R. Chiral resolution of PP revealed enhanced performance with additive, which can significantly improve the ee value from 32% to 60%.

<p>In this dissertation core level electron spectroscopy has been employed to study various aspects of metal oxide films grown under ultra-high vacuum conditions. </p><p>Studies on <i>in situ</i> ion insertion of lithium into thin TiO₂ systems were performed. The electronic and geometric properties are investigated in detail, along with an estimation of charge transfer from Li to Ti. </p><p>A detailed study of chemical vapour deposition of ZrO₂ on Si(100)-(2x1) was performed. ZrO₂ is found to be an insulator, i.e. its electronic levels are decoupled from the substrate and the Zr levels are best referenced to the local vacuum level. The alignment of the valence and conduction band has been determined. </p><p>Combinatorial chemical vapour deposition of TiO₂ and ZrO₂ on Si(100)-(2x1) was realized. A film with graded stoichiometry consisting of pure TiO₂ and ZrO₂ on the opposing ends and mixed composition of both oxides in the middle was obtained. A detailed study of the electronic levels revealed that ZrO₂ remains an insulator in the monolayer regime and that modification of ZrO₂ with a small amount of TiO₂ leads to a more symmetric alignment of the bands relative to Si. </p><p>The influence of a core hole on the O 1s x-ray absorption spectrum in TiO₂ and ZrO₂ is elucidated. Supported by O 1s photoemission measurements and <i>ab initio</i> calculations it is concluded that the static final state picture as well as dynamical threshold effects must be considered in order to determine the location of the conduction band minimum within the XAS framework. </p><p>Finally a Co modified Co:ZnO film was shown to display ferromagnetic properties. It could be evidenced that Co with oxygen as nearest neighbours was responsible for the magnetism and not metallic Co.</p>

Metal Organic Framework (MOF) materials, consisting of metal ions with organic linkers, have a functional cavity structure which can be utilized in applications such as catalyst, micro sensing, and gas absorption. Due to MOF materials' selective gas adsorption property, interest in MOF materials has intensified in the last few years, particularly for CO, CO₂, N₂, CH₄, and H₂. MOF materials are typically synthesized by reaction under hydrothermal conditions which yields a highly crystalline product. However, reaction under solvothermal condition typically requires long reaction times - from 8 hours up to several days depending upon the particular MOF material and the reaction conditions, such as solvent, temperature, and concentration. Other synthesis methods that have been developed to address these issues include microwave synthesis, sonochemical synthesis, and mechanochemical synthesis. Reaction time can be reduced to minutes under the high energy conditions of a microwave synthesis method. A solvent free synthesis can be achieved using the mechanochemical synthesis. The sonochemical synthesis method provides an environmentally friendly process. However, all of these synthesis methods above are batch processes and meet several difficulties in scalability and controllability. Herein, we introduce a new synthesis method for MOF materials which utilizes a continuous flow reactor process. To reduce the reaction time and solvent usage, and to maintain a high degree of the crystallinity are the goals of this study. Cu-BTC (BTC = Benzene, -1,3,5-Tricarboxylate ) or HKUST-1 Metal Organic Framework material was chosen to demonstrate the continuous flow reactor process since it has a simple MOF structure, consisting of Cu⁺² ions and BTC linkers, and has been widely studied for catalyst applications. The continuous flow synthesis method shows successful results of reduced residence time as low as 5 minutes, high crystal quality obtained, size control, and high yield with recycle solvent cooperation. The particle size control of MOF material has been shown crucial contributions in absorption application and is accomplished by adjusting the system temperature, flow rate, and solvent composition ratio. A water/ethanol mixture as the solvent in Cu-BTC synthesis reaction is environmentally friendly and easy to separate from the MOF product. In addition, the composition of water in solvent is the most influential factor to the crystal growth rate specifically in crystallization rate and nucleation rate. BTC is used in excess to achieve a production yield of about 97% based on Cu ion consumption. Since the Cu-BTC particles have a low solubility in the ethanol/water solution, they can be obtained easily using a dispersion/sonication method. The BTC rich supernatant can be recycled for use in the feed stream to maintain a high production rate, which can be beneficial for quick economic production in laboratory, as well as, commercial scale applications. / Graduation date: 2012

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a new class of nanoporous materials that have received great interest since they were first synthesized in the late 1990s. Practical applications of MOFs are continuously being discovered as a better understanding of the properties of materials adsorbed within the nanopores of MOFs emerges. One such potential application is as a component of an explosive-sensing system. Another potential application is for hydrogen storage. This work is focused on tailoring MOFs to adsorb/desorb the explosive, RDX. Classical grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations have been performed to calculate adsorption isotherms and self-diffusivities of RDX in several IRMOFs. Because gathering experimental data on explosive compounds is dangerous, data is limited. Simulation can in part fill the gap of missing information. Through these simulations, many of the key issues associated with MOFs preconcentrating RDX have been resolved. The issues include both theoretical issues associated with the computational generation of properties and practical issues associated with the use of MOFs in explosive-sensing system. Theoretically, we evaluate the method for generating partial charges for MOFs and the impact of this choice on the adsorption isotherm and diffusivity. Practically, we show that the tailoring of an MOF with a polar group like an amine can lead to an adsorbent that (i) concentrates RDX from the bulk by as much as a factor of 3000, (ii) is highly selective for RDX, and (iii) retains sufficient RDX mobility allowing for rapid, real time sensing. Many of the impediments to the effective explosive detection can be framed as shortcomings in the understanding of molecule surface interactions. A fundamental, molecular-level understanding of the interaction between explosives and functionalized MOFs would provide the necessary guidance that allows the next generation of sensors to be developed. This is one of the main driving forces behind this dissertation. Another important achievement in this work is the demonstration of a new direction for tailoring MOFs. A new class of tailored MOFs containing porphyrins has been proposed. These tailored MOFs show greater capability for hydrogen storage, which also demonstrated the great functionalization of MOFs and great potential to serve as preconcentrators. The use of a novel multiscale modeling technique to develop equations of state for inhomogeneous fluids is included as a supplement to this dissertation.