Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have garnered interest due to the high surface area and uniform controlled porosity of the structure which have been used for a number of purposes including gas separation, water filtration, catalysts for the petrochemical industry, and gas storage. More specific functionality, such as becoming a support for single atom catalysts and incorporating undercoordinated metal centers, often depends on additional post-synthesis modifications of the structure. Understanding the process for the post-synthesis modifications at the atomic level allows for greater control and further application to a wider variety of materials. Electron microscopy has recently been employed to understand the synthesis of MOFs as well as modifications to the structure. However, in situ works detailing the evolving structures at high spatial resolution are missing, because the organic component of MOFs can be damaged by the intense electron beam during the imaging process. Here we show the combination of low dose scanning/transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM) with in situ heating offers visualization of the structure changes of MOFs with a zirconium oxide network linked by terphenyldicarboxyl. Direct images and the corresponding fast Fourier transform (FFT) allow for measurements of the changing pore size of the MOFs as the organic linker undergoes transformations at different temperatures.  <br/>

In situ study on abnormal pore size changes of Zr based metal-organic frameworks using low-dose high resolution TEM

2019 Spring National Meeting

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