Electrochemical Film Deposition of the Zirconium Metal–Organic Framework UiO-66 and Application in a Miniaturized Sorbent Trap

Film deposition is an enabling technology for integration of novel functional materials into real-world practical applications. We report both the anodic and cathodic electrochemical film deposition of UiO-66, a prototype of highly stable, zirconium-based metal–organic frameworks, using zirconium foil as the only metal source. The fundamentally different film formation mechanisms at the cathode and anode result in a significantly different coating adhesion strength, mainly due to the formation of an oxide film serving as a bridging layer at the anode. The patterned deposition capability of the electrochemical method enables the straightforward integration of UiO-66 as a sorbent film in a miniaturized sorbent trap for online analytical sampling and concentration of dilute volatile organic compounds.