Deciphering Trends in Structural Parameters of RE-UiO-66 Metal–Organic Frameworks through Single Crystal Analysis

Single crystals of a family of rare-earth-metal–organic frameworks (RE-MOFs), RE-UiO-66 where RE = Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), Tb(III), Dy(III), Ho(III), Er(III), Tm(III), Yb(III), and Lu(III), are successfully synthesized and their structures resolved through single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Different structural parameters, including unit cell dimensions and bond distances, are explored to discover trends between those structural parameters, ionic radii of the RE ions in the MOF structures, and their thermal stability. Results suggest that subtle differences in metal-linker bond length can have a notable effect on thermal stability (± 60 °C).