Metal-Organic Framework Seeding to Drive Phase Selection and Overcome Synthesis Limitations

Seeding during the synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) enhances control over phase expression in synthesis conditions with high concentrations of metal and linker enabling reduced solvent quantities. Dramatic improvements to yield over unseeded conditions are achieved. Phase direction via the seeding method was explored for four different MOFs: Mg-MOF-74, DMOF-1, SNU-70, and UiO-66. The MOFs employed vary in terms of metal identity, secondary building unit, and linker, which demonstrates broad applicability, with one instructive exception, for MOF seeding as a method to drive phase selection and enable MOF production under industrially relevant conditions leading to reduced environmental impact.

Automated summary

Seeding during the synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) enhances control over phase expression and results in reduced solvent quantities and improved yield. The method was explored for four different MOFs, demonstrating its broad applicability in driving phase selection and reducing environmental impact in industrially relevant conditions.