Integration of MOFs with Rigid Ordered Structures and Soft Materials with Flexible Structures

Crystals exhibit regular molecular or ionic arrangements, whereas soft materials typically exhibit limited order, demonstrating flexibility and external stimuli responsivity. In this study, metal-organic frameworks（MOFs）were integrated with soft materials to exploit the highly ordered structures of MOFs for structural control of soft materials. We achieved enhanced liquid crystal alignment by introducing liquid crystals into the pores of MOFs and precisely controlled polymerization of 3D polymer networks. Furthermore, the MOF-liquid crystal composites demonstrated stimuli responsivity derived from the enhanced alignment of liquid crystals.