Modeling the layer-by-layer growth of HKUST-1 metal-organic framework thin films

Metal organic frameworks have emerged as an important new class of materials with many applications, such as sensing, gas separation, drug delivery. In many cases, their performance is limited by structural defects, including vacancies and domain boundaries. In the case of MOF thin films, surface roughness can also have a pronounced influence on MOF-based device properties. Presently, there is little systematic knowledge about optimal growth conditions with regard to optimal morphologies for specific applications. In this work, we simulate the layer-by-layer (LbL) growth of the HKUST-1 MOF as a function of temperature and reactant concentration using a coarse-grained model that permits detailed insights into the growth mechanism. This model helps to understand the morphological features of HKUST-1 grown under different conditions and can be used to predict and optimize the temperature for the purpose of controlling the crystal quality and yield. It was found that reactant concentration affects the mass deposition rate, while its effect on the crystallinity of the generated HKUST-1 film is less pronounced. In addition, the effect of temperature on the surface roughness of the film can be divided into three regimes. Temperatures in the range from 10 to 129 °C allow better control of surface roughness and film thickness, while film growth in the range of 129 to 182 °C is characterized by a lower mass deposition rate per cycle and rougher surfaces. Finally, for T larger than 182 °C, the film grows slower, but in a smooth fashion. Furthermore, the potential effect of temperature on the crystallinity of LbL-grown HKUST-1 was quantified. To obtain high crystallinity, the operating temperature should preferably not exceed 57 °C, with an optimum around 28 °C, which agrees with experimental observations