Unravelling the redox mechanisms of conductive MOFs to advance energy storage

Conductive metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising materials for energy storage, yet the mechanisms governing their redox properties remain poorly understood. In lithium-, sodium- and potassium-based MOFs, the observed redox potentials do not follow the predictions of conventional electrostatic models, indicating that additional physical factors are at play.

To uncover the origin of this behaviour, Alexandru Vlad (WEL Research Institute – UCLouvain) and collaborators combined experimental measurements and theoretical calculations, revealing that the redox properties of conductive MOFs cannot be explained solely by electrostatic interactions. Instead, they arise from a competition between electronic and vibrational effects within the material. Among the MOFs investigated, Na₂-Mn-DOBDC exhibited the best performance, with an average potential of around 3.0 V and good cycling stability, highlighting its potential for energy storage applications through an optimal balance between electronic and vibronic contributions.

Reference: Rambabu and al, Redox control in a conducting MOF through coupled electronic−vibronic effects, J. Am. Chem. Soc (2026)  https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c20277