frameworkporous

Frameworkporous is a descriptor used in materials science to denote porous solids that derive their porosity from a rigid, well-defined framework. These materials possess high surface areas, tunable pore sizes from micro to mesopores, and functionalizable building blocks, which together enable selective adsorption, catalysis, and guest-host chemistry.

Prominent realizations include metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), as well as inorganic framework materials such as mesoporous oxides and silicas. The common thread is reticular chemistry: assembling predefined nodes and linkers to generate a repeating network with predictable topology and porosity.

Synthesis typically involves choosing a set of rigid inorganic or organic nodes and organic linkers, then assembling them under solvothermal, hydrothermal, or vapor-assisted conditions to crystallize a porous framework. Design strategies focus on controlling pore size distributions, chemical functionality, and framework stability against moisture or reactive guests.

Characterization relies on X-ray diffraction to determine topology, gas adsorption measurements to quantify surface area and pore volume (for example BET analysis), and electron microscopy to observe morphology. Gas storage, separations (including CO2 capture and hydrocarbon separations), catalysis, sensing, and drug delivery are among common applications pursued in this class.

Challenges include framework stability under operating conditions, particularly hydrolytic or chemical stability, water resistance, scalability, and cost of synthesis. Ongoing research aims to expand structural diversity, improve stability, and develop scalable processing for industrial use.

See also: Metal-organic framework, Covalent organic framework, Porous material, Reticular chemistry.