Synthesis of Cu-BTC, from Cu and benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (H 3 BTC), by a green electrochemical method

Abstract A metal organic framework (MOF) material based on Cu-BTC, which is formed from Cu and benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (H 3 BTC), with 1D and 3D structures was synthesized under potential control. Cu-BTC 3D was electrodeposited at an applied potential of 5 V using tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TBATFB) as electrolyte during 10–60 min. Hydration showed that the phase structure of Cu-BTC 3D did not change after a short time of immersing in water and that the specific surface area increased from 48 m 2 /g to 371 m 2 /g. In contrast, with a long time of hydration (more than 4 h), Cu-BTC was destroyed and a dehydration process could not recover the Cu-BTC structure.