Post‐Synthetic Anisotropic Wet‐Chemical Etching of Colloidal Sodalite ZIF Crystals

• DOI: 10.1002/ange.201507588
• Publication Date: 2015-10-13T09:04:12Z
• Authors: Civan Avci; Javier Ariñez‐Sor...; Arnau Carné‐Sánchez; Vincent Guillerm; Carlos Carbonell; Inhar Imaz; Daniel Maspoch
• Keywords: Colloidal crystal; Sodalite; Isotropic etching; Crystal (programming language)

Abstract Controlling the shape of metal–organic framework (MOF) crystals is important for understanding their crystallization and useful myriad applications. However, despite many advances in shaping inorganic nanoparticles, post‐synthetic control MOFs and, general, molecular remains embryonic. Herein, we report using a simple wet‐chemistry process at room temperature to anisotropic etching colloidal ZIF‐8 ZIF‐67 crystals. Our work enables uniform reshaping these porous materials into unprecedented morphologies, including cubic tetrahedral crystals, even hollow boxes, by an acid–base reaction subsequent sequestration leached metal ions. Etching tests on ZIFs reveal that occurs preferentially crystallographic directions richer metal–ligand bonds; that, along directions, rate tends be faster crystal surfaces higher dimensionality; can modulated adjusting pH etchant solution.