Tunable electrical conductivity in metal-organic framework thin film devices

Published

January 3, 2014

Author(s)

Albert A. Talin, Andrea Centrone, Alexandra C. Ford, Michael E. Foster, Vitalie Stavila, Paul M. Haney, Robert A. Kinney, Veronika Szalai, Farid El Gabaly, Heayoung Yoon, Francois Leonard, Mark Allendorf

Abstract

We report a strategy for realizing tunable electrical conductivity in MOFs in which the nanopores are infiltrated with redox-active, conjugated guest molecules. This approach is demonstrated using thin-film devices of the MOF Cu3(BTC)2 (also known as HKUST-1) infiltrated with the molecule 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinododimethane (TCNQ). Tunable, air-stable electrical conductivity over six orders of magnitude is achieved, with values as high as 7 S/m. Spectroscopic data and first-principles modeling suggest unique conductivity mechanism occurring via TCNQ guest molecules bridging the binuclear copper paddlewheels in the framework leading to strong electronic coupling between the dimeric Cu subunits. These Ohmically conducting porous MOFs are prototypes for a novel class of materials that opens routes for entirely new applications.

Citation

Science

Volume

343

Issue

6166

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

Metal-organic framework, electrical conductivity, nanopores

Citation

Talin, A. , Centrone, A. , Ford, A. , Foster, M. , Stavila, V. , Haney, P. , Kinney, R. , Szalai, V. , El Gabaly, F. , Yoon, H. , Leonard, F. and Allendorf, M. (2014), Tunable electrical conductivity in metal-organic framework thin film devices, Science, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=913452 (Accessed October 14, 2025)