Issue 4, 2024

Introducing alkyl chains to realize the construction of superhydrophobic/superoleophilic MOFs and the transformation from three-dimensional to two-dimensional structure

Abstract

Superhydrophobic metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) exhibit excellent application prospects in many fields, such as catalysis, water pollution treatment, self-cleaning, and so on. In this study, two stable salen-based three-dimensional (3D) MOFs, i.e., ([Cd(CuLs)(L)]n (1) and [Zn(CuLs)(L)DMF]n (2) [Ls = N,N′-bis(3-tert-butyl-5-(4-pyridyl)salicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediamine copperII, L = [1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid]), have been synthesized. To build superhydrophobic MOFs, the low-surface-energy alkyl chains were introduced, and the water contact angles (WCAs) gradually increased from 136.9° to 155.0°. Interestingly, the structures are different from 1 when the alkyl chains are n-butyl, n-hexyl, or n-octyl. In particular, the 3D structure changes to the 2D structure by introducing the n-octyl, and the 2D stacking mode with a large number of aromatic rings is also conducive to improving hydrophobicity. As evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the introduction of alkyl chains also enhances the overall roughness of MOFs, which is also pivotal to improving hydrophobicity. In addition, the superhydrophobic/superoleophilic 1-Oct was loaded into a sponge to achieve selective oil–water separation. Another application of this MOF-functionalized sponge was the highly selective separation of water-in-oil emulsions. It was found that the pore environment of 1-Et was improved with the introduction of the ethyl side chain, which forms the basis for the other potential applications.

Graphical abstract: Introducing alkyl chains to realize the construction of superhydrophobic/superoleophilic MOFs and the transformation from three-dimensional to two-dimensional structure

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
17 ربيع الثاني 1445
Accepted
15 جمادى الثانية 1445
First published
16 جمادى الثانية 1445

Inorg. Chem. Front., 2024,11, 1123-1134

Introducing alkyl chains to realize the construction of superhydrophobic/superoleophilic MOFs and the transformation from three-dimensional to two-dimensional structure

X. He, C. Yu, J. Li, Z. Wang and K. Ye, Inorg. Chem. Front., 2024, 11, 1123 DOI: 10.1039/D3QI02250A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements