Stimuli-Responsive Metal-Organic Frameworks with Photoswitchable Azobenzene Side Groups

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are nanoporous, crystalline hybrid materials, which enable various functionalities by incorporating functional organic molecules. By using organic linker molecules that possess photoswitchable azobenzene side groups, the remote control over certain properties was introduced to MOFs. Different MOF materials in the form of powders and thin films have been used to demonstrate the photoswitching. The applications of these stimuli-responsive nanoporous solids range from switching the adsorption capacity of various gases over remote-controlled release of guest molecules to continuously tunable membrane separation of molecular mixtures. A particular focus of this review is the effect of the azobenzene photoswitching on the host-guest interaction, enabling smart applications of the material. Steric hindrance, which may suppress the photoswitching in some MOF structures, is also discussed.