Metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) exhibit tremendous promise in sensing applications such as the detection of gasses, molecules, temperature, and pH. However, the incorporation of MOFs onto various sensing platforms, such as optical fibers and quartz crystal microbalances, requires high-quality, well controlled thin film growth techniques that are flexible, scalable, and manufacturable. For this reason, there is a critical need for the ability to efficiently grow dense, uniform MOF films on a wide range of substrates. Here, a facile and rapid strategy to grow copper benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (Cu−BTC) MOF thin films using the plasmonic substrate aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) as a seed layer is demonstrated. The AZO templates Cu−BTC growth, with MOF formation only occurring on the AZO layer via a hydroxy double salt intermediate. As a result, growth chemicals can be recycled, minimizing waste. Remarkably, a dense Cu-BTC layer can be obtained within 10 minutes at room temperature and ambient conditions, circumventing energy-intensive heating steps and long reaction times. The formation pathway of the Cu−BTC films was investigated in detail, with the role of solvent growth conditions, pH, and the identity of the Cu salt anion analyzed extensively. We demonstrate that each of these variables can be exploited to systematically fine-tune both the packing density and size of the MOF crystals on AZO. The technique described here is rapid, tunable, selective, and applicable to a variety of substrates, providing a robust, versatile strategy for incorporating MOFs into sensing devices.

Rapid, selective, ambient growth and optimization of copper benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (Cu−BTC) metal−organic framework thin films on a conductive metal oxide

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.