Synthesis and properties of ferrocene confined within UiO-67 MOFs

Ferrocene was encapsulated into the cavities of the metal-organic framework UiO-67 using a solvent-free evaporation method. The obtained host-guest compounds were characterized by XRD, TEM, EDS, TG, XPS, N-2 adsorption-desorption, magnetic hysteresis and cyclic voltammetry studies. The results show that the micropores of UiO-67 are successfully occupied by ferrocene molecules and the ferrocene@UiO-67 composite shows an interesting ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature. Both the oxidation and reduction peak are observed in cyclic voltammograms due to the reversible conversion between Fe2+ and Fe3+ of ferrocene confined within UiO-67 framework. The results reveal that the novel properties of ferrocene embedded inside MOFs carries a substantial potential with regard to the synthesis of ferro-magnet or catalytic materials.