Growth of metal–organic frameworks on complex copper architectures fabricated by laser powder bed process

This study investigated the direct growth of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) on a copper substrate with complex architecture created via laser powder bed fusion process (PBF-LB/M). Specifically, a scalable route to functionalise gyroid primitive triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structures with HKUST-1 (Cu 3 (BTC) 2 , also known as MOF-199) using a malachite-mediated two-step synthesis was analysed. The PBF-LB/M/Cu gyroid architecture provided a high surface-to-volume ratio and favourable curvature for nucleation, enabling uniform formation of Cu 2 (OH) 2 CO 3 nanoribbons across the entire TPMS network. Subsequent conversion into HKUST-1 yielded a continuous MOF coating composed of well-defined octahedral and cuboctahedral crystals. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and computer tomography (CT) scan analysis confirmed homogeneous coverage even in highly curved regions, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) verified the presence of MOF-199 with minimal oxidation of the underlying copper. The lightweight coating (<3 wt%) preserved the openness and thermal conductivity of the metallic scaffold, establishing a robust hybrid platform that bridges metal additive manufacturing with MOF chemistry.