Coordination-based polymers and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been explored since their discovery at the beginning of the 18th century. Such materials are generated by the dozens in a gold-rush-type search for properties mainly related to the storage and release of energy (e.g., hydrocarbons, dihydrogen). How the molecular components, metal salts and experimental conditions control the dimensions, shapes, chirality and homogeneity of these materials is barely known. Using achiral ligands that binds late-transition metals in a defined manner, we address issues related to the mechanism underlying the formation of unusual and chiral structures. For two overviews of our recent work, see the Weizmann Wonder Wander pages about Yo-Yo crystals and the formation of hollow structures or watch it on YouTube.
- Unusual Surface Texture, Dimensions and Morphology Variations of Chiral and Single Crystals.
Singh, V.; Houben, L.; Shimon, L.; Cohen, S.; Golani, O.; Feldman, Y.; Lahav, M.; van der Boom, M. E. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 2-11. - Molecular Cannibalism: Sacrificial Materials as Precursors for Hollow and Multidomain Single Crystals.
di Gregorio, M. C.; Elsousou, M.; Wen, Q.; Shimon, L.; Brumfeld, V.; Houben, L.; Lahav, M.; van der Boom, M. E.
Nat. Commun., 2021, 12, 957. - Chiral and SHG-Active Metal-Organic Frameworks Formed in Solution and on Surfaces: Uniformity, Morphology Control, Oriented Growth and Post-assembly Functionalization
Wen, Q.; Tenenholtz, S.; Shimon, L.; Bar-Elli, O.; Neeman, L.; Houben, L.; Cohen, S.; Feldman, Y.; Oron, D; Lahav, M.; van der Boom, M. E.
J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2020, 142, 1410-1422. - The Emergence of Chirality and Structural Complexity in Single Crystals at the Molecular and Morphological Levels
di Gregorio, M. C.; Shimon, L.; Brumfeld, V.; Houben, L.; Lahav, M.; van der Boom, M. E. Nat. Commun., 2020, 11, 380.