Room temperature synthesis of metal organic framework MOF-2

One of the pioneering metal organic framework material, called MOF-2 and having the formula [Zn2(BDC)2], still continues awakening interest amongst the scientific community in spite of its layered character. However, the synthesis methods are either experimentally complicated or in two steps through the transformation of MOF-1. Here, we describe the preparation of a high-quality MOF-2 under more sustainable conditions, including room temperature, absence of any amine or any other pH-controller, partial substitution of the harmful organic solvent (N,N-dimethylformamide) by water, and by simply mixing linker and metal sources, the latter being zinc acetate, carefully selected as a function of their solubility in the solvent mixture. The optimum ratio of Zn(OAc)2·4H2O to terephthalic acid (H2BDC) is 1.74 and H2O to DMF is 3. MOF-2 [Zn2(BDC)2] has been characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, N2 adsorption/desorption and scanning electron microscopy, all of them supporting the good quality of the material.