Formatebased

Formatebased refers to compounds and materials in which formate units (the formate anion, HCOO−) are a primary structural component, either as bridging ligands in coordination networks or as core building blocks in extended frameworks. This class encompasses metal formates and metal-organic frameworks or coordination polymers that incorporate formate groups. Formate-based materials are typically synthesized by combining metal salts with sources of formate under solvothermal or hydrothermal conditions, often proceeding via the formation of metal-formate clusters that assemble into 1D, 2D, or 3D networks. Their properties depend on the metal centers, topology, and solvent content; many are air-stable, while some formates are moisture-sensitive due to the lability of coordination bonds.

Characteristic features include relatively simple anionic ligands, potential porosity in framework structures, and, in some cases, proton-conductive pathways along formate channels. Applications explored include gas storage and separation (notably CO2 capture), heterogeneous catalysis, ion conduction, sensing, and optoelectronic materials. In catalysis, formate ligands can influence acidity and accessibility of active sites, while porous formate networks can host gas molecules or small ions. Calcium formate and other simple metal formates serve as precursors or structural motifs in more complex frameworks, some of which are designed to tune pore size and chemistry.

Ongoing research addresses stability under moisture, scalable synthesis, and integration into devices. See also metal-organic frameworks, coordination polymers, and formate chemistry.