Doctoral themes 2023

Metal-organic framework films for purine sensing

Supervisors

Sara Realista, smrealista@ciencias.ulisboa.pt

Ana S. Viana, apsemedo@ciencias.ulisboa.pt

Registration Institution

Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa

Project description

 Metal-organic frameworks (MOF) are based on coordination bonds between metal ions and multidentate organic linkers such as carboxylates, azoles or nitriles. High porosity, chemical stability and uniform pore size are some of the attractive features to apply MOF as sensors and catalysts. These characteristics have led researchers to explore MOF for film formation on solid substrates giving rise to new possibilities, not available for MOF powders, through the fabrication of multifunctional interfaces used in signal transduction (e.g.: sensors). Purines are small biorelevant molecules that are part of our genetic code with a huge role in metabolism, protein synthesis and signalling processes. If the metabolism of these compounds is affected, it can lead to neurologic disorders. Therefore, this project intends to build new materials to behave as sensors for purines.

How can we design and optimise MOF films for electrochemical sensing? Limitations such as conductivity, sensitivity, selectivity, stability and the reproducible response of MOF films are highly related to the construction of interfaces. Therefore, this project aims to build stable and reliable MOF films by electrosynthetic methods to operate as electrochemical (amperometric) sensors of purines as model biochemical targets. Two different methods will be used to produce MOF films: a direct, using the MOF precursors (reductive deprotonation) and an indirect, using the MOF powders (electrophoretic deposition).

The research plan will be performed at CQE@Ciências with a planned 6-month research stay at the group of Professor Stefania Grecea (University of Amsterdam).

Keywords

Metal-organic frameworks

Electrodeposition

Sensors

Purines