Technical Feature

Reticular Chemistry and Metal-Organic Frameworks for Clean Energy

Omar M. Yaghi and Qiaowei Li

Abstract

Reticular chemistry concerns the linking of molecular building blocks into predetermined structures using strong bonds. We have been working on creating and developing the conceptual and practical basis of this new area of research. As a result, new classes of crystalline porous materials have been designed and synthesized: metal-organic frameworks, zeolitic imidazolate frameworks, and covalent organic frameworks. Crystals of this type have exceptional surface areas (2,000−6,000 m²/g) and take up voluminous amounts of hydrogen (7.5 wt% at 77 K and 3−4 × 10⁶ Pa), methane (50 wt% at 298 K and 2.5 × 10⁶ Pa), and carbon dioxide (140 wt% at 298 K and 3 × 10⁶ Pa). We have driven the basic science all the way to applications without losing sight of our quest for understanding the underlying molecular aspects of this chemistry. The presentation was focused on the design concepts, synthesis, and structure of these materials, with emphasis on their applications to onboard energy storage.

Omar M. Yaghi received his PhD degree from the University of Illinois-Urbana in 1990 with Professor Walter G. Klemperer. He was an NSF postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University (1990–1992) with Professor Richard H. Holm. Yaghi also has been on the faculties of Arizona State University (1992–1998) and the University of Michigan (1999–2006). His current position is the Irving and Jean Stone Chair in Physical Sciences at UCLA. His early accomplishments in the design and synthesis of new materials have been honored by the Solid State Chemistry Award of the American Chemical Society and Exxon Co. (1998) and the Sacconi Medal of the Italian Chemical Society (2004). His work on hydrogen storage was recognized by Popular Science Magazine, which listed him among the ‘Brilliant 10’ scientists and engineers in the United States (2006). He received the U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen Program Award for outstanding contributions to hydrogen storage (2007) and was the sole recipient of the Materials Research Society Medal (2007) for pioneering work in the theory, design, synthesis, and applications of metal-organic frameworks. He also won the AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Prize for the best paper published in Science (2007), and he is the recipient of the American Chemical Society Chemistry of Materials Award (2009). His work encompasses the synthesis, structure and properties of inorganic compounds and the design and construction of new crystalline materials. He has published more than 130 papers, which have received more than 180 citations per paper. He is listed among the top 10 most highly cited chemists worldwide (1998–2008).

Yaghi can be reached by phone at 310-206-0398 or e-mail at yaghi@chem.ucla.edu.

Qiaowei Li received his BS (2004) in applied chemistry from the University of Science and Technology of China and his MS in chemistry from the University of Michigan (2006). He is currently a PhD student at the University of California-Los Angeles, working with Professor Omar M. Yaghi. His current research interests include designing and constructing extended solid structures with complexities and the use of new porous crystalline materials for chemical appli - cations. Li can be reached by e-mail at qwli@chem.ucla.edu.