Synthetic Access to Atomically Dispersed Metals in Metal–Organic Frameworks via a Combined Atomic-Layer-Deposition-in-MOF and Metal-Exchange Approach

The combination (AIM-ME) of atomic layer deposition in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and metal exchange (ME) is introduced as a technique to install dispersed metal atoms into the mesoporous MOF, NU-1000. Zn-AIM, which contains four Zn atoms per Zr6 node, has been synthesized through AIM and further characterized through density functional calculations to provide insight into the possible structure. Zn-AIM was then subjected to modification via transmetalation to yield uniform porous materials that present nonstructural Cu, Co, or Ni atoms.