Unveiling the mechanism of lattice-mismatched crystal growth of a core–shell metal–organic framework

a process of growth of non-continuous shell layers that are terminated by terrace edges of the core. The crystal form of the shell MOF is heavily influenced by the lattice mismatch which hinders continuous spreading of the interfacial and subsequent shell layers on some facets. The results exemplify the crystal growth versatility of MOFs to accommodate large lattice mismatch, to house many more functional defects in a core-shell MOF than either of the component MOFs, and has broader implications for engineering lattice-mismatched core-shell materials in general.