Formation of high crystalline ZIF-8 in an aqueous solution

Abstract

We report here the synthesis of a zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) in an aqueous solution. ZIF-8 crystals were prepared by mixing 2-methylimidazole (Hmim) with Zn nitrate hexahydrate (Zn) in deionized water. The products prepared at high Hmim/Zn molar ratios were assigned to a sodalite (SOD)-type structure whose morphology consisted of a rhombic dodecahedron with truncated corners. The crystals possessed ultrahigh surface areas and micropore volumes. At low Hmim/Zn molar ratio, some zinc hydroxide and basic zinc nitrate were observed in the products. We also focused on the formation process of ZIF-8 crystals in an aqueous system by observing the change in the pH value as a function of synthesis time. We tried to calculate the stability constant of ZIF-8 by fitting the calculated pH values to the measured pH values. When the molar fractions of the zinc compounds in the equilibrium state were calculated, high fractions of the Zn(mim)₂ complex were observed at high concentrations of Hmim. On the other hand, some zinc cations were present at low concentrations of Hmim. This finding would support a causal relationship between these zinc cations and the formation of some by-products.