Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) represent a novel class of functional materials with exceptional modular structures that can enable their exploitation for a wide range of applications, e.g., gas storage and separation, water purification, sensing, degradation of hazardous chemicals, and catalysis. Each of these applications can benefit from a new ability to prepare MOF crystals of specific size and shape, facet expression, and/or defect-free. However, development of novel synthesis approaches that lead to controllable growth of MOF crystals is challenging and requires precise control over synthesis conditions. Here, we conduct MOF synthesis in gel media to enable crystal growth of MOF crystals with controlled size – ranging from colloidal nanosized particles to large MOF crystals. By applying <i>in situ</i> monitoring of the MOF synthesis process, we show that control over the size of resulting MOF structures can be achieved by suppression of nucleation and changes in growth rate afforded by different gel media. The comprehensive characterization combining optical imaging, electron microscopy, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopies will be discussed. Overall, this work provides a new platform to control MOF crystal size and morphology, which can lead to their enhanced performance.

Controlled growth of metal-organic frameworks in gels

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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