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Rapid synthesis of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanocrystals in an aqueous system
Summary:
The authors from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology developed ZIF-8 nanocrystals (≈85 nm) with excellent thermal, hydrothermal and solvothermal stabilities, achieving rapid, high-yield (≈80 %) production in pure water for potential gas-separation, catalysis and sensing applications.
Background:
1. To avoid costly/toxic organic solvents, previous researchers tried aqueous routes but obtained only 1D or non-porous solids.
2. The authors now propose a room-temperature aqueous precipitation (70:1 ligand/Zn) that gives pure-phase nanocrystals in minutes.
Research Content:
1. Synthesis:
Rapid pouring of Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O (aq) into 2-methylimidazole (aq) at 22 °C, 5 min stirring, centrifugal recovery.
2. Characterizations:
1) BET 1079 m² g⁻¹, micropore vol 0.31 cm³ g⁻¹ (Type-I N₂ isotherm).
2) SEM/TEM: hexagonal nanocrystals, mean size 85 nm (PDI 0.089); ratio ↑ 70→200 gives 50 nm.
3) In-situ XRD (vacuum, 450 °C, 5 h) and TGA (He) confirm framework intact to 500 °C; stable in boiling H₂O (5 d) and MeOH (7 d).
3. Application:
Colloidal methanol suspension remains stable for weeks—promising for solution-processed membranes or catalytic coatings.
4. Mechanism:
High ligand/Zn ratio accelerates deprotonation and nucleation, producing numerous small nuclei; aqueous H-bond network moderates growth rate, while strong Zn–N coordination ensures robust framework.
Outlook:
The first purely aqueous, minute-scale ZIF-8 route offers a green, scalable alternative to solvothermal methods and paves the way for water-based synthesis of other ZIFs for industrial separation and catalysis.
Rapid synthesis of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanocrystals in an aqueous system
Authors: Yichang Pan, Yunyang Liu, Gaofeng Zeng, Lan Zhao, Zhiping Lai
DOI: 10.1039/c0cc05002d
Link: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2011/cc/c0cc05002d
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