SAXS/WAXS STUDY OF THE KINETICS OF FORMATION OF METAL ORGANIC FRAMEWORKS

G. SEGOVIA, JIMENA TUNINNETI, MATÍAS RAFTI, A. PICCO, M. CEOLIN Y OMAR AZZARONI

Campinhas

Conferencia; RAU-LNLS; 2016

LNLS-CNPEM

Metal organic frameworks are a relatively new class of hybrid crystalline materials constituted by metallic centers (nodes) and organic linkers (bridging ligands). The field of application of these materials is continually growing, and includes heterogeneous catalysis, mixture separation, controlled release of drugs, and gas trapping among others. Despite the increasing number of new MOFs reported in the literature, crystallization mechanisms involved in the formation of these materials are far from being understood. This is a key aspect to be assessed, since a profound physicochemical knowledge of the process governing the nucleation and growth of these complex structures will ultimately enable the rational design of MOFs with specific and tailored sizes and shapes. In this context, in situ SAXS/WAXS experiments are of fundamental importance, allowing following both size/shape, and crystal order during particle/nanocrystal formation.