Efficient One-Pot Synthesis of a Hexamethylenetetramine-Doped Cu-BDC Metal-Organic Framework with Enhanced CO2 Adsorption

Herein we report a facile, efficient, low cost, and easily scalable route for an amine-functionalized MOF (metal organic framework) synthesis. Cu-BDC⊃HMTA (HMTA = hexamethylenetetramine) has high nitrogen content and improved thermal stability when compared with the previously reported and well-studied parent Cu-BDC MOF (BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate). Cu-BDC⊃HMTA was obtained via the same synthetic method, but with the addition of HMTA in a single step synthesis. Thermogravimetric studies reveal that Cu-BDC⊃HMTA is more thermally stable than Cu-BDC MOF. Cu-BDC⊃HMTA exhibited a CO2 uptake of 21.2 wt % at 273 K and 1 bar, which compares favorably to other nitrogen-containing MOF materials.