Linking of molecular building blocks by strong bonds into crystalline extended structures (reticular chemistry) such as metal-organic frameworks and covalent organic frameworks has made available precisely designed infinite 2D and 3D materials. The challenges and solutions to making crystalline, permanently porous frameworks, and the ‘grammar’ of linking organic and inorganic building blocks by strong bonds will be described. The resulting structures encompass space within which molecules can be further manipulated and controlled, leading to excellent catalysts, carbon capture and conversion to fuels, and in general, new conceptual advances in carrying out covalent chemistry beyond molecules. Our efforts in using reticular chemistry to create structures capable of water harvesting from desert air will be presented. These include the results of our three generations of ‘laboratory to desert’ devices showing how the vision of distributed, mobile, personalized, ultrapure water can be realized.

This talk was delivered by Professor Omar Yaghi from UC Berkeley to the audience of the public, CPS members, and UCL staff and students on the 9th March 2021.