Design and synthesis of rare-earth (RE) metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for various applications described below.
Adsorptive Removal of Contaminants from Water
RE-MOFs are tuned for the targeted removal of various contaminants from water. Metal node connectivity, pore/aperture size, and chemical functionality of the organic linker are modified to enhance adsorption. Focus is placed on the uptake and removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products.
Catalytic Degradation of Persistent Contaminants
RE-MOFs are used to catalytically break down contaminants that are not easily removed by adsorption alone.
Luminescent Sensing of Contaminants in Water
The luminescent properties of RE-MOFs are tuned by varying the identity of the metal and organic linker used to build the framework. Contaminants are detected by ‘turn-on’ or “turn-off” luminescence originating from the rare earth metals.