Synthesis of 2D Porous Crystalline Materials in Simulated Microgravity

To date, crystallization studies conducted in space laboratories, which are prohibitively costly and unsuitable to most research laboratories, have shown the valuable effects of microgravity during crystal growth and morphogenesis. Herein, an easy and highly efficient method is shown to achieve space-like experimentation conditions on Earth employing custom-made microfluidic devices to fabricate 2D porous crystalline molecular frameworks. It is confirmed that experimentation under these simulated microgravity conditions has unprecedented effects on the orientation, compactness and crack-free generation of 2D porous crystalline molecular frameworks as well as in their integration and crystal morphogenesis. It is believed that this work will provide a new playground to chemists, physicists, and materials scientists that desire to process unprecedented 2D functional materials and devices.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates a method to simulate space-like experimentation conditions on Earth using custom-made microfluidic devices for the fabrication of 2D porous crystalline molecular frameworks. The research confirms the unprecedented effects of experimentation under simulated microgravity conditions on the orientation, compactness, and crack-free generation of 2D porous crystalline molecular frameworks, as well as their integration and crystal morphogenesis, providing a new research playground for chemists, physicists, and materials scientists.