Open metal organic frameworks with exceptional surface area and high gas storage capacity

1. A metal-organic framework (MOF) comprising:

a plurality of metal clusters, wherein each metal cluster comprises one or more metal ions; and

a plurality of at least one first-multidentate aromatic tritopic linking ligands comprising at least one first linking ligand and at least one second linking ligand which is different from the first linking ligand, wherein the linking ligands connect adjacent metal clusters, and wherein the plurality of linking ligands having a sufficient number of accessible sites for atomic or molecular adsorption such that the surface area of the metal-organic framework is greater than about 5500 m 2 /g.

2. The MOF of claim 1 , wherein each metal cluster comprises 3 or more metal ions.

3. The MOF of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of-linking ligands have a sufficient number of accessible sites for atomic or molecular adsorption that the surface area is greater than 6,000 m 2 /g.

4. The MOF of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of linking ligands have a sufficient number of accessible sites for atomic or molecular adsorption that the surface area is greater than about 6,500 m 2 /g.

5. The MOF of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of linking ligands have a sufficient number of accessible sites for atomic or molecular adsorption that the surface area is greater than about 10,000 m 2 /g.

6. The MOF of claim 1 , wherein the metal ion is selected from the group consisting of Li + , Na + , Rb + , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Sr 2+ , Ba 2+ , Sc 3+ , Ti 4+ , Zr 4+ , Ta 3+ , Cr 3+ , Mo 3+ , W 3+ , Mn 3+ , Fe 3+ , Fe 2+ , Ru 3+ , Ru 2+ , Os 3+ , Os 2+ , Co 3+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Ni+, Pd 2+ , Pd+, Pt 2+ , Pt+, Cu 2+ , Cu+, Au+, Zn 2 + , Al 3+ , Ga 3+ , In 3+ , Si 4+ , Si 2+ , Ge 4 + , Ge 2+ , Sn 4+ , Sn 2+ , Bi 5+ , Bi 3+ , Cd 2+ , Mn 2+ , Tb 3+ , Gd 3+ , Ce 3+ , La 3+ , Cr 4+ and combinations thereof.

7. The MOF of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of linking ligands is comprised of two or more linking ligands comprised of at least two general structural formulas selected from Formula I, II, IV, VI, or VII:

wherein,

R1-R15 are each individually selected from: alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, akenes, alkynes, phenyl, substitutions of the foregoing, sulfur-containing groups, silicon-containing groups, nitrogen-containing groups, oxygen-containing groups, halogen, nitro, amino, cyano, boron-containing groups, phosphorous-containing groups, carboxylic acids, or esters, H, NH 2 , CN, OH, ═O, ═S, CI, I, F,

wherein X=1, 2, or 3;

wherein R16, R17 and R18 may or may not be present, if present R16, R17 and R18 are selected from an alkyl or cycloalkyl group, comprising 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group comprising 1 to 5 phenyl rings, an alkyl or aryl amine comprising alkyl or cycloalkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms or aryl groups comprising 1 to 5 phenyl rings, or —C≡C—.

8. The MOF of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of linking ligands is comprised of two or more linking ligands comprised of at least two general structural formulas selected from Formula III, V, VIII, or IX:

9. The MOF of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first linking ligand has a general formula selected from the group comprising Formula VI, VII, VIII, and IX:

and wherein the at least one second linking ligand has a general formula selected from the group comprising Formula I, II, Ill, IV, and V:

10. The MOF of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first linking ligand has a general formula selected from the group comprising Formula VI, VII, VIII, and IX:

and wherein the at least one second linking ligand is selected from the group consisting of Formula I and II:

wherein the structure of Formula I lacks R 16 , R 17 and R 18 .

11. The MOF of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of multidentate aromatic tritopic linking ligands is comprised of a first linking ligand having structural Formula VIII:

and a second linking ligand having structural Formula I:

wherein the structure of Formula I lacks R 16 , R 17 and R 18 .

12. The MOF of claim 11 , wherein the metal-organic framework has the structure and chemical properties of MOF-205.

13. The MOF of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of multidentate aromatic tritopic linking ligands is comprised of at least one first linking ligand having structural Formula IX:

and at least one second linking ligand having structural Formula I

wherein the structure of Formula I lacks R 16 , R 17 and R 18 .

14. The MOF of claim 13 , wherein the metal-organic framework has the structure and chemical properties of MOF-210.

15. The MOF of claim 6 , wherein the metal ion is a metal ion selected from the group consisting of Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Sr 2+ , Ba 2+ , Fe 2+ , Ru 2+ , Os 2+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Pd 2+ , Pt 2+ , Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ , Si 2+ , Ge 2+ , Sn 2+ , Cd 2+ , and combinations thereof.

16. The MOF of claim 6 , wherein the metal ion is Zn 2+ .

17. The MOF of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of linking ligands comprise at least one linking cluster selected from the group consisting of carboxylate, CO 2 H, CS 2 H, NO 2 , SO 3 H, Si(OH) 3 , Ge(OH) 3 , Sn(OH) 3 , Si(SH) 4 , Ge(SH) 4 , Sn(SH) 4 , PO 3 H, AsO 3 H, AsO 4H , P(SH) 3 , As(SH) 3 , CH(RSH) 2 , C(RSH) 3 , CH(RNH 2 ) 2 , C(RNH 2 ) 3 , CH(ROH) 2 , C(ROH) 3 , CH(RCN) 2 , C(RCN) 3 , CH(SH) 2 , C(SH) 3 , CH(NH 2 ) 2 , C(NH 2 ) 3 , CH(OH) 2 , C(OH) 3 , CH(CN) 2 , and C(CN) 3 , wherein R is an alkyl group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or an aryl group comprising 1 to 2 phenyl rings.

18. The MOF of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of linking ligands comprise carboxylate linking clusters.

19. A method for gas storage and separation comprising contacting the MOF of claim 1 with a fluid wherein an analyte in the fluid interacts and is absorbed by the MOF.

20. A method of forming a MOF, the method comprising: combining a solution comprising a solvent and metal ions selected from the group consisting Group 1 through 16 metals including actinides, and lanthanides, and combinations thereof with at least one first linking ligand comprising the general formula of I-V:

and with at least one second linking ligand comprising the general formula VI-IX:

such that the surface area of the metal-organic framework is greater than 5500 m 2 /g.