Surfactant-controlled crystal growth of metal-organic frameworks and their nanoparticle pyrolysis products

The effect of a common surfactant, cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), on the growth and mesoto micro structural morphology of a prototypical metal-organic framework, HKUST-1 (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology-1, copper 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate) has been investigated. Surfactant molecules direct growth of HKUST-1 into wheat sheaf-shaped structures, comprising flat, ribbon-like individual 'stems' of HKUST-1. Comparison of wheat sheaf-like structures to bulk HKUST-1, as well as their respective decomposition products, was made. Upon pyrolysis, both bulk and wheat sheaf structures thermally decomposed to amorphous carbon decorated with metallic copper nanoparticles, that in each case retained the base morphology of the starting MOF.