Gas–solid aldol condensation reaction in confined space of metal organic framework for formaldehyde detection

Abstract

Herein, a gas-sensitive functional nanomaterial was constructed by confining Tb(acac)₃(H₂O)₂ (acac = acetylacetone) in the space of the metal organic framework ZIF-8. This functional nanomaterial can realize a gas–solid state aldol condensation reaction, even at room temperature and without the use of a catalyst. In the reaction process, formaldehyde (FA) gas molecules can invalidate the antenna effect of the acac ligands, and it can therefore act as an ultrasensitive FA gas remover and detector (limit of detection value = 49 ppb).