Understanding Solvothermal Growth of Metal–Organic Framework Colloids for CO₂ Capture Applications

Abstract

A quantitative study of the synthesis of metal–organic framework (MOF) colloids via a solvothermal growth process was demonstrated using electrospray-differential mobility analysis (ES-DMA), a gas-phase electrophoresis approach. HKUST-1, a copper-based MOF (Cu-MOF), was selected as the representative MOF of the study. The effects of the synthetic parameters, including ligand concentration (C BTC), synthetic temperature (T s), and synthetic time (t s) versus material properties of the Cu-MOF, were successfully characterized based on the mobility size distributions measured by ES-DMA. The results show that the mobility size of Cu-MOF was proportional to T s, t s, and C BTC during the solvothermal growth. X-ray diffraction and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analyses were employed complementarily to the ES-DMA, confirming that the increase in mobility size of Cu-MOF was correlated to the increase in crystallinity (i.e., larger specific surface area and crystallite size). The results of CO2 pulse adsorption show that the synthesized Cu-MOF possessed a good CO2 adsorption ability under 1 atm, 35 °C, and the cumulative amount of CO2 uptake was proportional to the measured mobility size of Cu-MOF. The work provides a proof of concept for the controlled synthesis of MOF colloids with the support of gas-phase electrophoretic analysis, and the quantitative methodology is useful for the development of MOF-based applications in CO2 capture and utilization.

Metal‐Organic Framework‐Based Colloidal Particle Synthesis, Assembly, and Application

“…[72] The crystal structures, pore structures, and the resulting physiochemical properties of CMOF particles can be effectively adjusted by controlling the reaction conditions. [73] Ban et al [74] reported the solvothermal synthesis of ZIF-78 (ZIF=Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework) microrods by dissolving Zn(NO 3 ) 2 • 6H 2 O, 2-nitroimidazole (nIm), 5-nitrobenzimidazole (nbIm), and triethylamine (TEA) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and performing the reaction at 120 °C for 48 h. The morphology and the aspect ratios can be tuned by changing the reactant concentration, the ligand concentration, and the relative molar ratio of nIm to nbIm. Unfortunately, these microrods have a length of larger than 10 microns and a width of several microns.…”

“…One example is the MOF‐5, synthesized by Yaghi's team through the solvothermal route, which remains stable at 500 °C [72] . The crystal structures, pore structures, and the resulting physiochemical properties of CMOF particles can be effectively adjusted by controlling the reaction conditions [73] . Ban et al [74] .…”

Metal–organic frameworks for next-generation energy storage devices; a systematic review

“…5 Numerous methods have been discovered for modifying the structural and functional features of MOFs, which have been the target of research. 6 These synthesis techniques, such as solvothermal, [7][8][9] microwave-assisted, [10][11][12][13] mechanochemical, [14][15][16] and others, have proven essential for synthesizing MOFs with certain properties appropriate for specific uses. 17 Designing MOFs with specific pore sizes, shapes, and functions is made possible by their capacity to modify the metal and organic components, which allows for the fine-tuning of their physical as well as chemical properties.…”

Exploring the Challenges of Calcium Looping Integrated with Methane Bireforming for Enhanced Carbon Capture and Utilization

“…The global concern over climate change and the urgent need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions have highlighted the importance of carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies. – CCU not only helps in reducing emissions of CO 2 (i.e., the major greenhouse gas) but also presents opportunities for the production of valuable chemicals and fuels simultaneously. ,, As such, the development of efficient CCU processes is critical in addressing the challenges of climate change and transitioning to a more sustainable future in chemical engineering. , …”