IR and Raman Spectroscopies Probing MOFs Structure, Defectivity, and Reactivity

Vibrational spectroscopies, mainly infrared (IR) but to some extent also Raman, have been among the most informative techniques in understanding the structure and the reactivity of surface species present in high surface area materials such as oxides, zeolites, and, more recently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) This chapter devotes to the discussion of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) showing how the vibrational technique is able to check the quality of the synthesis products. In MOFs it is also possible to follow induced changes of skeletal and surface modes of the framework. Such information is of crucial relevance for applications such as gas adsorption, separation, and storage, and pertinent examples are reported. The chapter also describes how the use of IR is able to monitor catalytic reactions inside MOFs. It further aims to underline, with pertinent specific examples, how IR and Raman can contribute to a better understanding of MOF structure, properties, and reactivity.