Design of Metal-organic Framework (MOF) Composites for Bio-inspired applications. The combination between MOF and other substances involving macrobiomolecules, nanoporous materials, reactive catalytic species etc.; has brought about novel functional materials possessing striking properties. Our works focus on developing MOF-based composites by exploiting and manipulating the flexibility, tailorability, and tunability of MOF structures through their organic moieties and metal clusters. MOF composites, therefore, potentially emerge as state-of-the-art materials to be used at industrial level in the near future.
Biofunctionalized MOFs
Metal-organic Frameworks (MOFs) are one of the materials that contain exceptional large porosity. Iron-containing MOFs have shown good biocompatibility to the cell. So far, single-molecule encapsulation of biomolecules, such as proteins into the pores of MOFs has shown to enhance the biocatalytic activity of the protein. Also, organic linkers of MOFs can be covalently linked to proteins or biomolecules, serving as the tool for cellular internalization and cellular imaging. Furthermore, physical absorption via π-stacking of biomolecules with MOFs’ organic struts promisingly provides a new way of biomolecular delivery into the cell.
siRNA/MOF composite for therapeutic treatment of Dengue fever.
Light-responsive MOFs
Light-responsive materials has proved its use in numerous chemical reactions ranging from chemical sensors, photodegradation of pollutants or toxic chemicals, and photocatalysts in chemical reactions. Due to MOFs’ versatile structures derived from the rational design of metal clusters and organic linkers, light-responsive MOFs are easily obtained with the tunable band gap energy suitable for visible light region, which show remarkable optical properties and thermal stability along at relatively low cost applicable for large-scale production. For example, simply adding electron donating group to organic linkers in MOF structures can decrease the band gap energy to the visible region, and increase efficiency on the photodegradation of organic pollutants.
Light-responsive MOF for photodegradation of organic pollutants.
Bifunctional Catalysts
Reactive iron clusters embedded in MOF (Fe@MOF) as a bifunctional catalyst for ethylene dimerization.
MOFs are essentially the polymer of “organometallics”. Therefore, MOFs can catalyze chemical reactions as those in organometallic compounds, principally via Lewis acid catalysis by transition metals and catalysis in confined space according to their nanoporous nature. Heterogeneous catalysis by solid-state MOFs provides easier post-reaction separation and recyclability than those of homogeneous catalysts. In addition, modifying the structure of MOFs through their organic linkers or metal clusters can considerably enhance the catalytic performance of MOFs.
- Thiaville J. J., Kellner S. M., Yuan Y., Hutinet G., Thiaville P. C., Jumpathong W., Mohapatra S., Brochier-Armanet C., Letarov A. V., Hillebrand R., Malik C. K., Rizzo C. J., Dedon P. C., Crécy-Lagard V., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences., 113, E1452-E1459 (2016).
- Jumpathong W., Jakmunee J., Ounnankad K., Analytical Science. 32, 323-328 (2016).
- Jumpathong W., Chan W., Taghizadeh K., Babu R. I., Dedon P. C., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 112, E4845-E4853 (2015).
- Kongpatpanich K., Horike S., Sugimoto M., Kitao S., Seto M., Kitagawa S., Chemical Communications 50, 2292-2294 (2014).
- Horike S., Sugimoto M., Kongpatpanich K., Hijikata Y., Inukai M., Umeyama D., Kitao S., Seto M., Kitagawa S., Journal of Materials Chemistry A 1, 3675-3679 (2013).
Dr. Kanokwan Kongpatpanich (Lecturer)
Dr. Chularat Wattanakit (Lecturer)
Dr. Sippakorn Wannakao
(Postdoctoral Research Fellow)
Dr. Wattanachai Jumpathong
(Postdoctoral Research Fellow)
Mr. Taweesak Pila
Mr. Vitsarut Tangsermvit
Ms. Panchanit Piyakeeratikul
International Research Collaborator:
Prof. Alexie Kolpak MIT
Prof. Michael Probst University of Innsbruck
Assist. Prof. Bundet Boekfa Kasetsart University
Wangchan Valley 555 Moo 1 Payupnai, Wangchan, Rayong 21210 Thailand
