Structuration of redox active Metal Organic Frameworks by Molecular Layer Deposition – STREAM

STREAM project deals with a breaking innovation process for assembling and structuring at molecular level 3-D functional metal organic frameworks (MOFs) into thin films. For this purpose, a solvent-free molecular layer deposition (MLD) approach is proposed. MLD is based on self-saturating gas/surface chemical reactions allowing building films with molecular scale precision and is strongly innovative in the field of coordination polymer assembling. Thin film structuration is required to envision industry-compatible technological solutions. The functional MOFs considered in this project are metalloporphyrin-based materials that have been recently proven in our group to be interesting materials for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction. Their nano-scale structuration into thin films will allow an unprecedented study of the influence of the film composition and topology on electrochemical properties. To achieve this ambitious goal, a step by step approach is proposed, based on the optimization of the hetero-interface between the MOF and the substrate through lattice matching compounds selection. Reference MOFs will first be tested on suited oxide substrate surfaces to optimize growth parameters. This will pave the way for film growth of redox active porphyrin based networks. In the last step the composition will be tuned along the films layers by controlling the sequence of deposition.