Issue 42, 2020

Experimental evidence for a general model of modulated MOF nanoparticle growth

Abstract

Nanoparticles of metal–organic frameworks (nanoMOFs) boast superior properties compared to their bulk analogs, yet little is known about how common synthetic parameters dictate particle sizes. Here, we provide experimental evidence for the “seesaw” model of nanoMOF growth. Solution acidity, ligand excess, and reactant concentrations are decoupled and shown to form the key independent determinants of nanoMOF sizes, thereby validating the proposal that nanoMOFs arise from coupled equilibria involving ligand deprotonation and metal–ligand complexation. By achieving the first demonstration of a seesaw relationship between nanoMOF sizes and ligand excess, these results provide further proof of the model, as they required deliberate manipulation of relationships outlined by the model. Exploring the relative impacts of these parameters reveals that ligand excess has the greatest ability to decrease sizes, although low acidity and high concentrations can exhibit similar effects. As a complement to existing models of polymer formation and crystal growth, the seesaw model therefore offers a powerful tool for reliable control over nanoMOF sizes.

Graphical abstract: Experimental evidence for a general model of modulated MOF nanoparticle growth

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
02 Sep 2020
Accepted
24 Sep 2020
First published
28 Sep 2020
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2020,11, 11539-11547

Experimental evidence for a general model of modulated MOF nanoparticle growth

C. R. Marshall, E. E. Timmel, S. A. Staudhammer and C. K. Brozek, Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 11539 DOI: 10.1039/D0SC04845C

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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