Greener, cheaper MOF synthesis

Our ChemSci Pick of the Week demonstrates the scalable synthesis of metal-organic-frameworks (MOFs) using ultrasonic or acoustic frequencies – rather than solvent-based approaches.

The team of researchers from McGill University, Canada, showed that scale-up from milligrams to 25g was straightforward using the mechanochemical technique which does not require milling media.

They demonstrated the use of their liquid-assisted resonant acoustic mixing (LA-RAM) methodology for the synthesis of three- and two-dimensional MOFs based on Zn(II), Co(II) and Cu(II), including a mixed ligand system.

Importantly, the LA-RAM approach also allowed the synthesis of the ZIF-L framework that has never been previously obtained in a mechanochemical environment, as well as its Co(II) analogue.

Straightforward scale-up from milligrams to at least 25g was demonstrated using the metastable framework ZIF-L as the model.

This work could lead to an alternative to less laborious and environmentally toxic solvent-based processes.

This article is free to read in our open access, flagship journal Chemical Science: Hatem M Titi et al., Chem. Sci., 2020, Advance Article. DOI: 10.1039/D0SC00333F. You can access our 2019 ChemSci Picks in this article collection.