Metal-organic frameworks capable of healing at low temperatures.

Chen, Ziguang; Wang, Gonghua; Xu, Zhanping; Li, Hui; Dhôtel, Alexandre; Zeng, Xiao Cheng; Chen, Banglin; Saiter, Jean-Marc et al. · Adv Mater · 2013

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Filling crystalline gaps with small molecules can drive interfacial healing between anisotropic solids. Sufficient mobility from these fillers allows the process to happen at a low temperature of -56 °C. Mended bulk crystals show modulus leap from 4 to 12 GPa and hardness from 400 to 1000 MPa.