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Metal–organic frameworks

3D frameworks from 3D printers

Nature Chemistry volume 6, pages 953–954 (2014)Cite this article

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High-throughput screening of solvothermal crystallization conditions for MOFs and other solids may receive a boost from the application of 3D printing techniques to low-cost, disposable pressure vessels.

In MOF (metal–organic framework) chemistry, solvothermal synthesis methods are widely applied1. Often crystallization at elevated temperatures is the only means of generating robust frameworks from a given metal and ligand system. Traditionally, solvothermal synthesis is carried out, on scales of tens of milligrams to a few grams, in Teflon cups. These are then inserted into stainless steel pressure vessels. Soon after the field of MOF synthesis emerged around two decades ago, it was quickly realized that variation of reaction conditions — stoichiometry, solvent, concentration, temperature, time and pH — can lead to numerous different product phases.

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Figure 1: 3D-printed reactionware enables solvothermal synthesis of metal–organic frameworks.

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  1. Ian D. Williams is in the Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China,

    Ian D. Williams

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  1. Ian D. Williams
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Correspondence to Ian D. Williams.

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Williams, I. 3D frameworks from 3D printers. Nature Chem 6, 953–954 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.2089

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