Controlled synthesis of concave cuboctahedral nitrogen-rich metal-organic framework nanoparticles showing enhanced catalytic activation of epoxides with carbon dioxide

Nitrogen-rich metal-organic framework (N-MOF) nanoparticles with an unusual concave cuboctahedral morphology were prepared through a facile wet-chemical route using benzimidazole as the modulator. Benzimidazole plays an essential role in controlling the concave cuboctahedral morphology of the nanoparticles. By changing the benzimidazole dosage, the resultant morphology can be tuned from a concave octahedron to a concave cuboctahedron. The concave cuboctahedral nanoparticles exhibit high catalytic efficiency for the activation of epoxides with carbon dioxide.