# Surface curvature-directed in situ synthesis of ultrathin 2D MOFs on liquid metals for antibacterial applications

## TL;DR

Researchers developed a new method to create ultrathin 2D MOF sheets on liquid metal particles, which show strong antibacterial effects against drug-resistant bacteria.

## Contribution

A surface curvature-guided in situ synthesis strategy using liquid metal particles to fabricate ultrathin 2D MOFs with enhanced antibacterial properties.

## Key findings

- MOF@LMP microflowers with ultrathin 2D MOF petals were synthesized using gallium-based liquid metal particles.
- The composite exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration of 2.4 µg mL−1 against multi-drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria.
- The antibacterial mechanism combines physical disruption, gallium ion release, and reactive oxygen species generation.

## Abstract

Although promising as hybrid materials for catalysis, antibacterial treatments, and optoelectronics, conventional two-dimensional metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) sheets tend to pile into thick stacks to result in low surface areas. Here, we report a surface curvature-guided in situ synthesis strategy that employs gallium-based liquid metal particles (LMPs) as a confined reaction medium for fabricating ultrathin, large-area 2D MOF sheets. By implementing a pre-sonication step in decanol followed by centrifugation before synthesis in DMF, we create conditions that direct MOF growth outward from the curved LMP surfaces, resulting in MOF@LMP microflowers with ultrathin and uniform 2D MOF petals, which we call LOTUS (Liquid-metal Organized Thin Uniform Sheets). These microstructures exhibit exceptional antibacterial efficacy against multi-drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2.4 µg mL−1, operating through a synergistic mechanism that combines physical disruption, gallium ion release, and reactive oxygen species generation. Biocompatibility assessments further validate their potential for therapeutic applications. Beyond antibacterial applications, our findings establish LMPs as a transformative templating medium for the controlled fabrication of ultrathin 2D MOFs with enhanced functional properties.

Liquid-metal curvature guides in situ growth of ultrathin MOF petals, yielding a composite with synergistic antibacterial activity against drug-resistant bacteria.