Organic guest molecule induced ultrafast breathing of an epitaxially grown metal-organic framework on a self-assembled monolayer.

We report epitaxially grown new two-dimensional metal-organic framework (MOF) thin films on a self-assembled monolayer (SAM). We fabricated these epitaxial thin-films using stepwise layer-by-layer seeding followed by solvothermal treatment. The MOF thin films exhibit ultrafast structural flexibility (through breathing) compared to their bulk samples upon uptake of organic guest molecules.