Applications of Quartz Crystal Microbalances Modified With Metal Organic Frameworks

Abstract

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are versatile materials that are of interest due to their application and properties. MOFs are highly crystalline and porous materials; they are composed of organic bridging ligands, acting as linkers, and a three-dimensional (3D) network of metal ions that are secondary building units. Since the MOFs have a high surface area, high porosity, tunable topography, and their structures are quite diverse, these materials are used in process of separation/purification, gas/energy storage, drug delivery, catalysis, and chemical sensors. Since the MOFs can be modified to selectively adsorb chemical species, they can be used as sensitive layer for modification of sensors. This process allows the sensor to detect the target analyte. Quartz crystal microbalances (QCMs) are highly sensitive mass sensors. In this chapter, the authors review the literature related to QCMs modified with MOFs. In particular, the relationship between target analyte, class of MOF, and instrument used for measurement of frequency variations.