Ultrasonication treatment enhances MOF surface area and gas uptake capacity

It is well recognised fact that the properties of materials depend on the synthesis technique. We can use this power to change the physical and chemical properties of materials. Metal organic frameworks are porous coordination polymers that have a highly porous structure, great surface area and can be utilised for gas capturing and storage applications. Improving the surface area of MOFs has always been targeted in coordination chemistry. Synthesis reactions need mass physical forces where the mass transfer of reactants is required, and it can definitely be provided by the sonochemical synthesis approach. In this study, the very well-known MOF-2 was re-synthesised using an ultrasonication method. The prepared sample was activated under vacuum to obtain highly porous MOF crystals. All the prepared samples were fully characterized using SCXRD, PXRD, FTIR TGA, SEM-EDS and BET analysis. The results indicated highly crystalline, water stable MOF materials with a high carbon dioxide capture tendency. Moreover, it was found that sonication treatment and vacuum activation at high temperature increases the specific surface area of the prepared samples compared to MOF-2 prepared by a conventional solvothermal synthesis. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.