Controlled MOF Crystal Growth in Microfluidic Systems
Controlling metal-organic-framework crystal growth using microfluidic flow.
The Scientific Problem
Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are highly tunable materials, but their properties depend strongly on crystal growth conditions. In practice, controlling crystal size and shape is difficult because nucleation and growth are highly sensitive to local conditions such as concentration and mixing. Traditional batch synthesis offers limited control, leading to variability in crystal morphology. Microfluidic systems offer a way to precisely control flow and transport, but how these conditions influence MOF crystallisation remains poorly understood.
The Approach
We used microfluidic devices to study MOF crystal growth under controlled flow conditions. By systematically varying flow rate, precursor concentration, and channel geometry, we tuned the local chemical environment and observed its effects on nucleation and growth.
My Role
I designed and executed the experimental workflow, including operating the microfluidic systems and generating the dataset used in the publication. In parallel, I developed the image analysis pipeline used to quantify crystal morphology across experiments, enabling a data-driven analysis of growth behaviour.
Outcomes
This work resulted in a publication in JACS (2020) and was featured on the cover. The study established a clear relationship between microfluidic flow conditions and MOF crystal morphology, showing how transport processes influence nucleation and growth. More broadly, it demonstrates how combining controlled microfluidic environments with quantitative analysis can be used to better understand and engineer crystallisation processes.
Related publications
- Growing and Shaping Metal–Organic Framework Single Crystals at the Millimeter ScaleJournal of the American Chemical Society · 2020
Related media
JACS Cover Art
Our work was selected as cover art in JACS
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