Porous Microcrystals Shrinkable by Near-Infrared Light

Abstract

In this study, we synthesized porous crystals (^FPMOF_3D) of fused porphyrins using an extended π-conjugated system. These crystals exhibit volume contraction through the photothermal effect of near-infrared (NIR) irradiation and return to their original state when the NIR irradiation ceases. Furthermore, we proposed the construction of porous nanoreactors that enable efficient material circulation by taking advantage of this property. The ^FPMOF_3D crystals demonstrated effective substrate uptake, conversion, and product release within the pores by leveraging the thermal energy produced through NIR absorption. Moreover, through the development of a synthesis method, the crystals were successfully miniaturized to yield a fine powder sample while preserving their functional properties. These findings underscore the potential for the advancement of NIR-driven reactors and in vivo applications.