A Systematic Investigation of Decomposition of Nano Zn4O(C8H4O4)3 Metal-Organic Framework

The systematic investigation of thermal decomposition of the metal-organic framework Zn4O(BDC)(4) (MOF-5) was carried out. It was found that the decomposition of MOF-5, which could take place at 400 degrees C or above, was due to the breaking of carboxylic bridges between benzene rings and Zn4O clusters. The decomposition produced CO2, benzene, and amorphous carbon besides crystal ZnO. Furthermore, the ZnO, was covered by amorphous carbon, resulting in the C/ZnO nanoparticles of about 10 nm. The removal of ZnO from the C/ZnO nanoparticles could generate mesoporous carbon with a large surface area of 1844 m(2)/g.