Laser ablation: A new technique for the preparation of metal-organic frameworks Cu3(BTC)2(H2O)3

This paper presents a chemical bottom-up synthesis of highly crystalline sub micro structured metal organic framework Cu-3(BTC)(2)(H2O)(3) (HKUST-1, BTC=benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate) prepared for the first time by a Laser ablation technique in liquid environment. The experiment consists of the ablation of a Cu metal target in a solution of DMF/H2O (1:1) containing benzene 1,3,5, benzene tricarboxilic acid and NaNO3 with a high power second harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser. The X-ray and SEM measurements showed that high crystalline Cu-3(BTC)(2)(H2O)(3) with octahedral morphology and dimensions in the range of 200 nm to 2 mu m were obtained in a high yield. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.