Formation of high surface area metal-organic frameworks

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

a MOF comprising at least one metal ion and at least one multidentate organic ligand which is coordinately bonded to said metal ion; and

a scaffold,

wherein the scaffold is a molecule that forms a chemical bond with the framework.

2. The formed MOF structure of claim 1 , wherein the gravimetric nitrogen uptake at 1.0 bar and 77 Kelvin is at least 65% that of an as-synthesized powder of the MOF.

3. The formed MOF structure of claim 1 , wherein the MOF structure is formed into a pellet having a particle density that is at least 50% that of an as-synthesized powder of the MOF.

4. The formed MOF structure of claim 1 , wherein the formed MOF structure comprises a nanopore size distribution between 3 Å and 32 Å and a macropore size distribution between 500 Å and 10,000 Å.

5. The formed MOF structure of claim 1 , wherein the formed MOF structure comprises a gravimetric surface area between 1,100 and 14,500 m 2 /g.

6. The MOF of claim 1 , wherein the metal ion is selected from Li + , Na + , K + , Rb + , Be 2+ , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Sr 2+ , Ba 2+ , Sc 3+ , Y 3+ , Ti 4+ , Zr 4+ , Hf 4+ , V 5+ , V 4+ , V 3+ , Nb 3+ , Ta 3+ , Cr 3+ , Cr 2+ , 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 + , Ag + , Au + , Zn 2+ , Al 3+ , Ga 3+ , In 3+ , Se + , 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+ and Cr 4+ , and combinations thereof.

7. The formed MOF structure of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold comprises at least one of a solvent, incompressible liquid, ionic liquid, supercritical fluid, polymer, inorganic fluid, or hydrocarbon.

8. A method of making a macroporous structure comprising a metal-organic framework (MOF), the method comprising:

mixing a MOF powder and a scaffold to form a mixture of the MOF powder and the scaffold to form a scaffolded MOF;

mechanically processing the mixture to form a macroporous structure;

embedding the mixture into a cross-linked polymer; and

removing the scaffolding from the structure to re-open structural micropores.

9. A method of making a macroporous structure comprising a metal-organic framework (MOF), the method comprising:

mixing a MOF powder and a scaffold to form a mixture of the MOF powder and the scaffold to form a scaffolded MOF;

mechanically processing the mixture at a pressure of at least 25,000 psi to form a macroporous structure;

removing the scaffolding from the structure to re-open structural micropores; and

wherein:

(i) the scaffolded MOF is blended with a crosslinked polymer and extruded before scaffold removal; or

(ii) the scaffolded MOF is blended with a crosslinked polymer and formed through an additive manufacturing process before scaffold removal; or

(iii) the scaffolded MOF is mixed with a monomer and exposed to reaction conditions before scaffold removal.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the scaffolded MOF is blended with a crosslinked polymer and extruded before scaffold removal.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the scaffolded MOF is blended with a crosslinked polymer and formed through an additive manufacturing process before scaffold removal.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the scaffolded MOF is mixed with a monomer and exposed to reaction conditions before scaffold removal.