Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: A straightforward, rapid and continuous method to protect MOF nanocrystals against water

Home > Press > A straightforward, rapid and continuous method to protect MOF nanocrystals against water

Abstract:
An article in Advanced Materials magazine presents a one-step, alternative, rapid, and scalable spray-drying (SD) synthesis of Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) nanocrystals coated with organic polymers composites) with enhanced hydrolytic stabilities. This method, which should enable molecular fabrication of various functional composites for a wide array of industrial applications, has been described by the Supramolecular NanoChemistry & Materials Group led by ICREA Research Prof Daniel Maspoch.

A straightforward, rapid and continuous method to protect MOF nanocrystals against water

Barcelona, Spain | Posted on February 9th, 2015

Many Metal-Organic Frameworks are water labile, including the iconic Hong-Kong University of Science and Technology-1 (HKUST-1), which is very promising for many industrial applications. In an article published in Advanced Materials magazine and signed by RyC researcher Inhar Imaz and ICREA Research Prof Dr Daniel Maspoch, researchers from the Institut Catalŕ de Nanocičncia i Nanotecnologia (ICN2) belonging to the Supramolecular NanoChemistry & Materials Group have reported that spray-drying encapsulation of nanocrystals of HKUST-1 into polystyrene microspheres is a straightforward, rapid and continuous method to protect the compound against liquid water and water vapours. Their method does not require any filtration or purification steps, since the composites are obtained directly in a dried, pure form.

Although encapsulation always implies a compromise between the protection offered by polystyrene and the pore accessibility of the encapsulated porous material, spray-drying has enabled the authors to fine-tune the HKUST-1/PS ratio to achieve optimal trade-off in their composites: they are resistant to liquid or vapour water yet retain most of the excellent gas sorption capacity of HKUST-1. In these composites, the polymer protects the embedded MOF crystals against water molecules, without substantially decreasing their initial sorption capacity, and increases their water resistance in terms of porosity properties.

As in Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) mix matrix membranes, the permeability of the organic polymer in the composite should be one of the key factors to understand and enhance the gas and vapour transport towards the embedded MOF crystals. Here, for example, further experimentation aimed to study the water uptake kinetics is currently underway. Nevertheless, this method should enable molecular fabrication of various functional composites, based on the ever-expanding pool of MOFs and organic polymers, for a wide array of industrial applications such as CO2 capture from flue gas streams, heat pumps, or adsorption chillers.

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Alicia Labian

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