Site specific supramolecular heterogeneous catalysis by optically patterned soft oxometalate–porous organic framework (SOM–POF) hybrid on a chip

Abstract

We have designed a supramolecularly bound multi-component catalytic material based on a soft oxometalate (SOM) and a porous organic framework (POF) material, which shows high catalytic conversion efficiency. We have also used this material for site directed supramolecular heterogeneous catalysis with a yield even higher than in the bulk, and with micron-level precision by controllably depositing the material on a glass substrate, making a reactor chip, using a thermo-optical tweezers. Various SOM–POF composites have been prepared in dispersion phase and patterned using thermo-optic tweezers and their catalytic activities have been compared with a benchmark molecular catalyst [PMo₁₂]. This work can lead to further explorations for hybrid materials that are formed out of well-defined molecular level precursors which can be controllably micro-patterned to simultaneously catalyze targeted reactions.