Using Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> in the Preparation of Metal-Organic Frameworks: Investigating Effects on Crystallisation

In this report, we explore the use of supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> (scCO<sub>2</sub>) in the synthesis of well-known metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) including Zn-MOF-74 and UiO-66, as well as on the preparation of [Cu<sub>24</sub>(OH-<i>m</i>BDC)<su...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Huan V. Doan, Fei Cheng, Thandeka Dyirakumunda, Mark R. J. Elsegood, Jiamin Chin, Oliver Rowe, Carl Redshaw, Valeska P. Ting
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-12-01
Series:Crystals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/10/1/17
Description
Summary:In this report, we explore the use of supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> (scCO<sub>2</sub>) in the synthesis of well-known metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) including Zn-MOF-74 and UiO-66, as well as on the preparation of [Cu<sub>24</sub>(OH-<i>m</i>BDC)<sub>24</sub>]<sub>n</sub> metal-organic polyhedra (MOPs) and two new MOF structures {[Zn<sub>2</sub>(L<sup>1</sup>)(DPE)]∙4H<sub>2</sub>O}<sub>n</sub> and {[Zn<sub>3</sub>(L<sup>1</sup>)<sub>3</sub>(4,4&#8242;-azopy)]∙7.5H<sub>2</sub>O}<sub>n</sub>, where BTC = benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, BDC = benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate, L<sup>1</sup> = 4-carboxy-phenylene-methyleneamino-4-benzoate, DPE = 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethylene, 4.4&#8242;-azopy = 4,4&#8242;- azopyridine, and compare the results versus traditional solvothermal preparations at low temperatures (i.e., 40 &#176;C). The objective of the work was to see if the same or different products would result from the scCO<sub>2</sub> route versus the solvothermal method. We were interested to see which method produced the highest yield, the cleanest product and what types of morphology resulted. While there was no evidence of additional meso- or macroporosity in these MOFs/MOPs nor any significant improvements in product yields through the addition of scCO<sub>2</sub> to these systems, it was shown that the use of scCO<sub>2</sub> can have an effect on crystallinity, crystal size and morphology.
ISSN:2073-4352