Controllable Synthesis of Metal-Organic Frameworks: From MOF Nanorods to Oriented MOF Membranes

Tailoring of the crystal size and morphology of metal-organic framework (MOF) materials and manipulation of MOF films is possible by the solvothermal synthesis route introduced here. A c-out-of-plane ZIF-7 membrane (see figure) is obtained through evolutionary selection in a van der Drift-type growth originating from randomly oriented seed layers. Highly oriented MOF thin films are important as molecular sieve membranes.