Issue 26, 2020

Air-thermal processing of hierarchically porous metal–organic frameworks

Abstract

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) show great potential for various applications. The functions of MOFs are closely related to their porous structures and lattice integrities. However, the generally existing guest solvent/linker molecules and crystalline defects will alter internal microstructures and microenvironments of MOFs. Meanwhile, although MOFs have tailorable pore structures within the range of microspores, the achievement of meso/macropores in MOFs is of scientific interest. Herein, a versatile air-thermal processing (ATP) strategy is reported to remove the residual molecules and incompletely coordinated linkers in MOFs. Through processing MOFs in confined space, the thermalized and pressurized air can assist the filling solvents and partially/totally uncoordinated linkers to overcome the energy barrier of escape, and then maximize MOF porosity. The obtained MOF materials with hierarchical micro/mesoporous structures display substantially improved adsorption capacities and selectivities. For example, CuBTC-A shows 36%, 72%, 22%, and 86% enhancements in surface area, pore volume, CO2 uptake, and CO2/N2 selectivity, respectively. Moreover, by adjusting processing temperature, the ATP strategy is available for fabricating MOF materials with hierarchically micro/meso/macroporous superstructures under modulator/template-free conditions.

Graphical abstract: Air-thermal processing of hierarchically porous metal–organic frameworks

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
12 Apr 2020
Accepted
23 Jun 2020
First published
24 Jun 2020

Nanoscale, 2020,12, 14171-14179

Air-thermal processing of hierarchically porous metal–organic frameworks

M. Jia, L. Mai, Z. Li and W. Li, Nanoscale, 2020, 12, 14171 DOI: 10.1039/D0NR02899A

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