Laela Mukaromah, Yessi Permana, Aep Patah

Influence of Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids on the Electrosynthesis of CuBDC Type Metal-Organic Frameworks: Crystallite Size and Productivity

Introduction

Influence of room-temperature ionic liquids on the electrosynthesis of cubdc type metal-organic frameworks: crystallite size and productivity . Explore the influence of room-temperature ionic liquids on CuBDC metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) electrosynthesis. Study crystallite size and productivity with different RTILs.

Abstract

The influence of imidazolium- and ammonium-based room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) i.e., [bmim][BF₄], [bmim][DCA], and MTBS, respectively, as electrolytes on the crystallite size and productivity of CuBDC (BDC=1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) type metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) by electrosynthesis method via anodic dissolution was investigated. CuBDC was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and nitrogen physisorption. The crystallite size and productivity of CuBDC using [bmim][BF₄], [bmim][DCA], MTBS as electrolytes were 24.7 nm, 22.1 nm, 20.5 nm, and 236 mg/h, 69 mg/h, 291 mg/h, respectively. Bulkier structure of ammonium-based RTILs resulted CuBDC with a smaller crystallite size and higher productivity compared to imidazolium-based RTILs.

Review

This manuscript presents an interesting and timely investigation into the role of room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) as electrolytes in the electrosynthesis of CuBDC metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The use of electrosynthesis for MOF production offers a scalable and controlled pathway, and understanding the influence of the reaction environment, particularly the electrolyte, on critical parameters like crystallite size and productivity is of significant importance for materials science and engineering. The study's focus on contrasting imidazolium- and ammonium-based RTILs provides valuable insights into how electrolyte structure can dictate the physicochemical properties of the resulting MOF, which is crucial for tailoring their performance in various applications. The authors employed a well-rounded suite of characterization techniques, including FTIR, PXRD, SEM, TGA, and nitrogen physisorption, to thoroughly analyze the synthesized CuBDC. The core findings indicate a clear correlation between the chosen RTIL and the resulting MOF characteristics. Specifically, the study reports crystallite sizes ranging from 20.5 nm to 24.7 nm and productivities from 69 mg/h to 291 mg/h depending on the RTIL. A key takeaway is that the ammonium-based RTIL (MTBS), characterized by a bulkier structure, yielded CuBDC with a smaller crystallite size and notably higher productivity compared to its imidazolium-based counterparts. This observation, attributing the difference to the bulkiness of the RTIL structure, points towards a significant mechanistic influence of the electrolyte. Overall, this work makes a valuable contribution to the field of MOF synthesis, particularly in the context of electrochemical routes. The clear presentation of quantitative data for crystallite size and productivity associated with different RTILs is a strength, offering practical guidance for researchers aiming to control MOF morphology and production efficiency. The identified relationship between the bulkier structure of ammonium-based RTILs and enhanced productivity alongside reduced crystallite size offers a compelling direction for further investigation into the underlying crystallization mechanisms. This study effectively demonstrates a practical strategy for tuning MOF properties through careful electrolyte selection during electrosynthesis.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.