Synthesis of nanocrystals of Zr-based metal–organic frameworks with csq-net: significant enhancement in the degradation of a nerve agent simulant

The synthesis of nano-sized particles of NU-1000 (length from 75 nm to 1200 nm) and PCN-222/MOF-545 (length from 350 nm to 900 nm) is reported. The catalytic hydrolysis of methyl paraoxon was investigated as a function of NU-1000 crystallite size and a significant enhancement in the rate was observed for the nano-sized crystals compared to microcrystals.