An ambient-temperature aqueous synthesis of zirconium-based metal–organic frameworks

Abstract

For the first time, we have developed an aqueous ambient-temperature synthesis of the zirconium-based metal–organic framework NH₂-UiO-66. The optimised synthetic route offers greatly reduced energy input compared with the conventional solvothermal synthetic method and it does not require any organic solvents or vapours. This facile process is easily up-scalable and it yields highly porous nanoparticles. Samples that underwent the reaction in a shorter amount of time displayed point defects of the dangling linker type.