Development of Functional Materials via Polymer Encapsulation into Metal-Organic Frameworks

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) composed of metal ions and organic ligands have been extensively studied over the last few decades owing to their versatile porous structures with controllable sizes and designable surface functionalities. The encapsulation of polymer chains into MOF pores is a powerful strategy for the preparation of functional materials. The nanochannels of MOFs disrupt the natural coiling of polymer chains and constrain them in extended conformations, facilitating the study of the properties of single polymer chains. The formation of nanocomposites between MOFs and polymers can provide unprecedented material platforms to accomplish several nanoscale functions. Furthermore, the use of regulated nanochannels in MOFs for polymer encapsulation allows the discrimination of the marginal structural differences in individual polymer chains, providing the separation of polymers from complex mixtures.