'Mix-and-match' material's properties can be tuned by changing its metallic 'recipe'

Scientists have developed a groundbreaking new family of materials whose properties can be altered by adjusting their metallic composition. Led by researchers at the University of Birmingham, chemists created highly adaptable metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in which metal atoms are bonded together by organic molecules to form intricate structures with minuscule pores.

The team, collaborating with the universities of Nottingham and Limerick, discovered that by varying the ratios of metals within these materials, they could modify key characteristics such as magnetism, porosity, light absorption, and the ability to absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂).

The breakthrough allows researchers to create "programmable" porous materials, where a specific mix of metals can be chosen to fine-tune the material's magnetic, optical, chemical, or gas-adsorption behavior. This approach could significantly reduce the need to invent entirely new materials whenever different properties are desired, instead allowing researchers to simply alter the metallic recipe within the same underlying structure.

The researchers tested a variety of metal combinations, ultimately producing a MOF containing 16 different metals simultaneously, including rare earth elements like yttrium, indium, and 14 lanthanides. By adjusting the proportions of two of these metals—dysprosium and lanthanum—the team observed changes in several properties, including magnetism, near-infrared absorption, surface area, and CO₂ uptake.

These findings were published in the prestigious journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, highlighting the potential of this new class of materials for applications ranging from gas storage and separation to sensing, catalysis, bioimaging, and the creation of novel magnetic materials.