Dual template effect of supercritical CO2 in ionic liquid to fabricate a highly mesoporous cobalt metal–organic framework

Abstract

A hierarchical meso- and microporous metal–organic framework (MOF) was facilely fabricated in an ionic liquid (IL)/supercritical CO₂ (SC CO₂)/surfactant emulsion system. Notably, CO₂ exerts a dual effect during the synthesis; that is, CO₂ droplets act as a template for the cores of nanospheres while CO₂-swollen micelles induce mesopores on nanospheres.