Smart Nanoporous Films of Photoswitchable Metal-Organic Frameworks

By confined self-assembly of functional, photoactive molecules, crystalline nanoporous remote-controllable metal-organic framework (MOF) films are fabricated in a layer-by-layer fashion. These smart, stimuli responsive materials contain pores large enough to allow for photo-induced changes of size and shape of the photoswitchable molecules.
Here, various forms of azobenzene, which undergo reversible light-induced trans-cis isomerizations, were incorporated, resulting in unique properties.