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Interfacial synthesis of hollow metal–organic framework capsules demonstrating selective permeability

Nature Chemistry volume 3, pages 382–387 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of crystalline materials that consist of metal ions and organic ligands linked together by coordination bonds. Because of their porosity and the possibility of combining large surface areas with pore characteristics that can be tailored, these solids show great promise for a wide range of applications. Although most applications currently under investigation are based on powdered solids, developing synthetic methods to prepare defect-free MOF layers will also enable applications based on selective permeation. Here, we demonstrate how the intrinsically hybrid nature of MOFs enables the self-completing growth of thin MOF layers. Moreover, these layers can be shaped as hollow capsules that demonstrate selective permeability directly related to the micropore size of the MOF crystallites forming the capsule wall. Such capsules effectively entrap guest species, and, in the future, could be applied in the development of selective microreactors containing molecular catalysts.

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Figure 1: Different concepts in the synthesis of MOF films.
Figure 2: Preparation of hollow MOF capsules.
Figure 3: Scanning electron micrographs of hollow [Cu3(BTC)2] capsules.
Figure 4: Selective permeability of [Cu3(BTC)2] capsules.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Belgian Federal Government for support for IAP project 6/27 Functional Supramolecular Systems, to K.U.Leuven for the Methusalem CASAS grant, to FWO Vlaanderen for project funding G.0453.09. R.A. and M.B.J.R. are grateful for support from FWO Vlaanderen. D. Henot is acknowledged for performing elemental analysis. The authors thank P.A. Jacobs for helpful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, 3001, Belgium

    Rob Ameloot, Frederik Vermoortele, Wim Vanhove, Bert F. Sels & Dirk E. De Vos

  2. Department of Chemistry, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, 3001, Belgium

    Maarten B. J. Roeffaers

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  1. Rob Ameloot
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Contributions

R.A., M.B.J.R. and D.E.D.V. designed the experiments. R.A. and W.V. developed the setup used to prepare MOF capsules and optimized the synthesis conditions. R.A. and F.V. performed the experiments demonstrating selective permeability. All authors contributed in writing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Dirk E. De Vos.

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Ameloot, R., Vermoortele, F., Vanhove, W. et al. Interfacial synthesis of hollow metal–organic framework capsules demonstrating selective permeability. Nature Chem 3, 382–387 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.1026

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