Versatile Processing of Metal-Organic Framework-Fluoropolymer Composite Inks with Chemical Resistance and Sensor Applications

Abstract

We report a new class of metal-organic framework (MOF) inks with a water-repellent, photocurable fluoropolymer (PFPE) having up to 90 wt % MOF loading. These MOF inks are enabled to process various MOFs through spray coating, pen writing, stencil printing, and molding at room temperature. Upon UV curing, the hydrophobic PFPE matrix efficiently blocks water permeation but allows accessibility of chemicals into the MOF pores, thereby freeing the MOF to perform its unique function. Moreover, by introducing functional MOFs we successfully demonstrated a water-tolerant chemosensor for a class of aromatic pollutants in water and a chemical-resistant thermosensor for visualizing temperature image. This approach would open up innumerable opportunities for those MOFs that are otherwise dormant.