Mechanochemical Loading: An Alternative Route to form Spiropyran@MOF Composite Materials

Abstract

Exploring synthesis methods fosters new ways to design materials in faster and cheaper ways. In this fundamental study, we present mechanochemical loading of photoactive dye molecules into porous metal-organic frameworks (=MOFs) as an alternative and promising strategy to form hybrid switch@MOF systems. Six different spiropyrans were inserted into the two MOFs MOF-5 and MIL-68(In) in varying compositions. By this, the concentration-dependent enclosure characteristics were determined. This fast and simple synthesis strategy has never been reported so far, and thus provides completely new possibilities for the formation of two- or even multi-component systems.