Anisotropy engineering of metal organic framework derivatives for effective electromagnetic wave absorption

Anisotropy engineering serves as an effective method to achieve unique properties and enhanced performance of materials. Here MOF-71 and derivatives with tuned anisotropy have been achieved via facial tuning the proticity of the solvents, giving rise to nanoflake assemblies into bellows-, boat-and flowerlike microstructures. Three anisotropy dimensions including Faceting, Aspect ratio and Arrangement have been proposed to describe the anisotropy of the assemblies, which are further evaluated by heterotype (H), flatness (F) and orderliness (O). Combined off-axis electron holography and electromagnetic scattered field simulation visualize uniform distribution of magnetic lines due to enhanced anisotropy of the bellows-like derivatives. This gives rise to strengthened magnetic loss and electromagnetic wave absorption for the anisotropy evolution from the flower-, boat-to bellows-like structure. As such the work not only provides versatile strategy for anisotropy engineering and reification of the anisotropy for complicated assembled structures, but also insights on impacts of the anisotropy on the distribution of stray field, magnetic dipoles and scattered field for the design of electromagnetic absorbers, which are extendable to various areas including but not limited to magnetics, electrics and optics. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Anisotropy engineering through tuning solvent proticity has been used to achieve MOF-71 and derivatives with tuned anisotropy, resulting in nanoflake assemblies of various shapes. This enhanced anisotropy not only strengthens magnetic loss and electromagnetic wave absorption, but also provides insights for electromagnetic absorber design.