TU Graz Unravels MOF Thin Film Structure

Researchers at Graz University of Technology, led by Roland Resel and Egbert Zojer, in collaboration with Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and other institutes, have unraveled the true structure of metal-organic framework (MOF) thin films. Their findings, published in Advanced Functional Materials, demonstrate that the prototypical copper benzene dicarboxylate Cu(bdc) thin film is not porous as previously thought, but densely packed with additional hydroxide groups. This discovery contradicts existing structural models and explains previously observed properties like high stability towards water and magnetic characteristics. The non-porous structure opens new potential applications in sensor technology, microelectronics, and magnetic storage systems, and suggests that many published structural models of MOF thin films may need reassessment.