Metal-organic framework thin films with well-controlled growth directions confirmed by x-ray study

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted the attention of a variety of researchers because of their structural diversity and designability, and their varied physical properties based on their uniform microporosity. While MOFs are interesting as bulk materials, future applications in functional nanomaterials will require the use of MOFs as thin films, and to achieve this, several thin-film fabrication techniques have been developed. These techniques have provided rational design of a variety of MOF thin films; however, oriented crystal growth of a MOF thin film, which is mainly confirmed by X-ray diffraction, remains a challenge that should be addressed. In this article, we review thin-film fabrications and characterizations, and structural features of MOF thin films with perfect crystalline orientation. (C) 2014 Author(s).