Synthesis of Zn-BTC metal organic framework assisted by a home microwave oven and their unusual morphologies

A metal organic framework with a unique form was prepared using a conventional microwave oven and changing the ratio between metal (zinc) and ligand (1,3,5 tricarboxylic acid). The powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) shows that the increase of metal content in the synthesis gives more crystalline materials as seen by the scanning electron microscopies (SEM). Moreover, by SEM the ratio 1:4 (ligand:metal) exhibited a unique cauliflower like structure with an average size of 16.9 +/- 4.7 mu m. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.