An exploration of some organic-inorganic hybrid metal fluorides and lanthanide containing metal organic frameworks (Ln-MOFs) has been carried out under ionothermal conditions. In this synthesis technique an ionic liquid (IL) or deep eutectic mixture (DES) is used as the solvent and in many cases as the provider of the organic structure directing agent. A wide range of ILs and DESs have been investigated as the reaction solvent for the synthesis of organically templated vanadium fluorides and oxyfluorides (VOFs), and initially this has proved to be successful with the isolation of 13 phases, including eight new materials. In the VOFs synthesis the IL acts as a solvent, however the DES acts as a solvent and also as a template delivery agent, where the expected template is provided by the partial breakdown of the urea derivative component. Interestingly, it has been shown that the same structure can be accessible via two different ways; either by using IL with an added templating source, or simply through the use of a DES without any other additive; since the template is provided by the in situ breakdown of the DES. The synthesis of VOFs with extended structures was achieved by the use of the hydrophobic IL 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMIM Tf₂N) as the solvent. [HNC₅H₅][V₂O₂F₅] represents the first VOF with a 2D network that contains exclusively V⁴⁺. This material may be considered as arising via condensation of the previously known ladder-like chains. Furthermore, using imidazole as an added template has produced another layer material that has significant similarities to the [HNC₅H₅][V₂O₂F₅] structure, but with some key differences. Within the same system three other phases were also isolated, including two novel materials displaying the known ladder-type building units. Further investigations in the ionothermal synthesis of VOF using EMIM Tf₂N resulted in a successful synthesis of [NH₄]₂[HNC₇H₁₃][V₇O₆F₁₈], a novel material displaying a unique double layered topology featuring a S = ½ kagome type lattice of V⁴⁺ ions (d¹). Two of the V⁴⁺ based kagome sheets are pillared by V³⁺ ions to form a double layered structure templated by both ammonium and quinuclidinium cations. This compound exhibits a high degree of magnetic frustration, with significant antiferromagnetic interactions but no long range ordering was observed above 2 K. This material presents an interesting comparison to the famous Herbertsmithite, ZnCu₃(OH)₆Cl₂, and may provide an excellent candidate for realising a quantum spin liquid (QSL) ground state. Interestingly, in this system the use of EMIM Tf₂2N as a solvent produces mainly V⁴⁺-containing materials, despite the high reaction temperature (170 °C). This characteristic is unprecedented in VOFs synthesis, as rising the reaction temperature above 150 °C in other techniques (i.e. hydrothermal synthesis) would often result in further reduction of V⁴⁺ to V³⁺. Using the ionothermal technique in the synthesis of hybrid iron fluorides resulted in the isolation of three chain-type materials. Again, the IL acts as the solvent and the DES acts as the solvent and also as the template provider where the expected template is released by the partial breakdown of the urea derivative component of the DES. The synthesis of Ln-MOF using a choline chloride/ 1,3-dimethylurea deep eutectic mixture has produced three novel isostructural materials. Usually, in ionothermally prepared materials (i.e. zeolites) the urea portion of the DES is unstable and breaks down in situ to form ammonium or alkylammonium cations. In the ionothermal synthesis of Ln-MOF, 1,3-dimethyurea (DMU) remains intact and is occluded in the final structure. Using a choline chloride/ethylene glycol deep eutectic solvent led to the isolation of a Ln-MOF with interesting structural properties, however none of the DES components appeared in the final structure. These results demonstrate once more the usefulness and applicability of the ionothermal synthesis method and emphasise how this synthesis technique can be further extended and applied in the preparation of important structures with unique properties and functionalities.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:552665 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Aidoudi, Farida Himeur |
| Publisher | University of St Andrews |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/10023/2592 |
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