Mixed-Metal Cerium/Zirconium MOFs with Improved Nerve Agent Detoxification Properties

A series of Ce/Zr mixed-metal–organic frameworks with different topology/connectivity, namely, Ce/Zr-UiO-66 (U01, U02, and U03) (fcu (12-c)), Ce/Zr-DUT-67-PZDC (D01 and D02) (reo (8-c)), and Ce/Zr-MOF-808 (M01, M02, and M03) (spn (6-c)) were evaluated toward the detoxification of toxic nerve agent model diisopropylfluorophosphate (DIFP) at room temperature in unbuffered aqueous solution. Noteworthily, the catalytic rate for P–F bond cleavage increased with increasing Ce/Zr molar ratio. A further increase in catalytic activity can be achieved by Mg(OMe) 2 doping of the mixed-metal MOFs as exemplified with M01@Mg(OMe) 2 and M02@Mg(OMe) 2 systems. The results show that Mg(OMe) 2 incorporation into the mesoporous cavities of M01 and M02 give rise to P–F hydrolytic degradation half-lives of nearly 5 and 2 min with 100% degradation of DIFP after 55 and 65 min for M01@Mg(OMe) 2 1:2 and M02@Mg(OMe) 2 1:4, respectively.