PH-modulated formation of uniform MOF-5 sheets

We report on a controlled synthesis of uniform MOF-5 sheets. The MOF sheets were solvothermally synthesized in a basic reaction medium in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Systematical investigation on the synthetic parameters revealed a pH-modulated mechanism for the formation of sheet-like morphology of MOF-5 crystals and a PVP-promoted shape evolution of the well-defined square sheets with uniform length and thickness.