The controlled growth of oriented metal–organic frameworks on functionalized surfaces as followed by scanning force microscopy

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) selectively grown on COOH-functionalized surfaces have been investigated by scanning force microscopy. Thickness and surface roughness analysis reveals that the use of a novel protocol based on a layer-by-layer approach results in a controlled growth yielding extremely homogeneous and preferentially oriented materials. The results are described within a sequential growth model and turn out to be promising for building up MOF-based 3D architectures of high quality.