Hierarchical Pore Development by Plasma Etching of Zr-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks

The typically stable Zr-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2 were treated with tetrafluoromethane (CF4) and hexafluoroethane (C2F6) plasmas. Through interactions between fluoride radicals from the perfluoroalkane plasma and the zirconium-oxygen bonds of the MOF, the resulting materials showed the development of mesoporosity, creating a hierarchical pore structure. It is anticipated that this strategy can be used as a post-synthetic technique for developing hierarchical networks in a variety of MOFs.