Organic capping agent is considered essential to control the nanoparticle structure and prevent aggregation in colloidal nanoparticle synthesis. The major challenge associated with colloidal synthesis is that the capping agent is difficult to be removed and may cause the loss of catalytic activity of the nanoparticles. Here, we report a one-pot method to encapsulate well-defined nanoparticles with no extra organic capping agent into metal−organic frameworks (MOFs). The colloidal synthetic NPs are completely separated and encapsulated in MOF crystal. Considering MOF as a novel crystalline porous capping agent, the synthesized nanoparticles are monodispersed and size controllable within the MOF crystals. The NPs-MOF composite catalysts show size selective catalytic properties because of the uniform microporous of MOF structure. The results imply the nanoparticles are fully confined and stabilized within the MOF crystals.

Metal organic frameworks as crystallized capping agent for metal nanoparticle synthesis

250th National Meeting (2015)

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