Functional porous metal-organic materials (MOMs) is a hot area of research due to potential application in energy (H₂, CH₄) storage, hazardous gas adsorption, selective uptake of small molecules, optical or magnetic responses to the guest inclusion. The most rational design of MOMs is based on crystal engineering principles, reticular and modular chemistry, which involve the concept of Molecular Building Blocks (MBBs), Secondary Building Units (SBUs) and “node and spacer” interpretation of crystal structure architecture. Due to their inherent modularity the topologically similar MOMs may be prepared by combinations of organic linkers and metal ions/clusters and suggest the creation of multifunctional MOMs in which two or more physical/chemical properties are integrated. The useful architectures may assemble also by hydrogen-bonding and π–π stacking interactions from low-dimensional entities to higher-dimensional supramolecular aggregates. As synthetic protocols have increased in the last decade, not only conventional adsorptive functions such as storage, separation, and catalysis, but also other physical/chemical functions such as conductivity, luminescence, drug delivery and bioactivity can be integrated in the frameworks.

   The project was aimed to design the advanced MOMs through chemical components and structural topologies. The objectives of the project:

• Based on successful team experience and the recent results achieved to develop the rational protocols for the directed fabrication of perspective MOMs with combination of useful properties, inclusion / luminescence / catalysis; inclusion / magnetism; inclusion / biologic activity.
• To produce MOMs by connecting rod-like organic moieties with inflexible inorganic ions or clusters that act as joints. The size and the chemical environment of the resulting voids will be defined by the length and functionalities of the organic units. Tailoring of the material’s properties would be realized by the appropriate choice of starting materials.
• To implement the single crystal X-ray structural study and spectroscopic characterization of the fabricated materials, and analysis of homogeneity of obtained MOMs using facilities of powder diffraction.
• To study the structure – properties relationship of MOMs with the attraction of arsenal of the available in the team disposal investigation techniques.