Metal-organic framework (MOF) materials are crystalline multifunctional porous materials that are composed of metal ions and organic ligands. They usually possess uniform pores smaller than 2 nm in size, which limits their practical applications involving large molecules. Introduction of macro-channels into MOFs is desirable to enhance mass transport, which is highly important for the applications of gas sorption, catalysis, drug delivery and energy storage. Here we present a facile synthesis strategy for preparing stable hierarchical porous MOFs. The interlayer distance within layered MOF crystals were expanded to micron scale to form pinecone-like hierarchical architecture by reconstructing 2-dimensional MOF layers with nanometer-sized thickness through solvent vapor-templated process. The obtained hierarchical porous amino-functionalized copper 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate exhibits higher pore volume and specific surface area, accelerated mass transport and enhanced adsorption capacity for volatile organic compounds.

Bottom-up synthesis approach to convert layered metal-organic framework materials into hierarchical porous structures

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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