Research achievements on the synthesis of mental organic frameworks by professors from Shanxi University have been published on Angewandte Chemie International Edition, an international authoritative journal of Germany.

Institute of Crystalline Materials in Shanxi University has made significant progress in the synthesis of mental organic frameworks (MOFs). Relative articles have been published online in the form of a cover story on Angewandte Chemie International Edition, an international authoritative journal of Germany.

Doctor Wang Junhao is the first author and corresponding author of the story, working alongside another corresponding author, Professor Zhang Xianming.

Wang put forward the concept of solvent assisted metal metathesis and confirmed that acetone is an ideal solvent in Fe/Cr MOFs exchange reaction.

The result is thought to have achieved great progress in MOFs synthesis, and has significant theory and application value in the research of MOFs skeleton exchange reaction mechanism and in the construction of high-stable MOFs.

MOFs, a cellular material made up of organic ligands and metal ion clusters through self-assembly of coordinate bond, has been given extensive attention for its large surface area and uniform pores with a broad application prospect.

However, the low bond energy of coordinate bond reduced the stability of MOFs, restricting the development and application of the material.

Cr-MOFs, though has high application value in catalysis, adsorption and separation with its high stability, and it is difficult to synthesize with related materials. The methods for metal exchange and preparation of Cr-MOFs has been developed but with no practical applicability. Hence, the development of new synthesis method of Cr-MOFs is urgent.

Wang, in the study of transforming Fe-SXU-1 (SXU: acronym of Shanxi University) into Cr-SXU-1, found that the coordination of solvent with carbonyl groups and metal ion plays an important role in Fe/Cr MOFs framework conversion.

Shanxi University is the first and the only corresponding unit authorized to do this particular research. Alongside from getting research activation fee from the university itself, Shanxi University also received research funds from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, SanJin Scholars of Shanxi province, Shanxi Provincial Science and Technology Research Funds.

Doctor Zhang Ying, a professor from the Molecular Science Institute, participated in the research. Many thanks has to go to the guidance and help of Professor Li Dan from Jinan University and research assistant Li Mian from Shantou University, and support in ICP - MASS testing form the massive scientific instrument center.