Morphology evolution and gas adsorption of porous metal-organic framework microcrystalsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: PXRD patterns, SEM images, and crystal plane illustrations. See DOI: 10.1039/c5dt02636a

• Main Authors: Qi, Zhao-Peng, Yang, Ji-Min, Kang, Yan-Shang, Sun, Wei-Yin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1477-9226; 1477-9234
• DOI: 10.1039/c5dt02636a

A facile and controllable synthesis of porous framework [Cu 3 (L) 2 (DABCO)] ( 1 ) (H 3 L = 1,1′:3,1′′-terphenyl]-4,4′′,5′-tricarboxylic acid; DABCO = 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) microcrystals was realized with morphology evolution from a tetragonal plate to an elongated tetragonal bipyramid, and the particle size changes by tuning the volume ratio of mixed solvents of DMF and H 2 O. Interestingly, the exposed high-energy {103} crystal facet can be easily tuned by controlling the supersaturation through the increase of the solution concentration, resulting in the formation of spindle microcrystals. It was found that both H 2 O and HCl play important roles in the morphology evolution process. The gas adsorption properties were found to be dependent on the morphology of microcrystals, and the elongated tetragonal bipyramidal microcrystals show the largest BET surface area. The morphology and size of MOF microcrystals are tuned by volume ratios of DMF and H 2 O, and their sorption properties are morphology-dependent.