Accelerated aging for making MOFs

Metal-organic frameworks have the potential to be materials that form a part of a greener economy. Laboratory syntheses of MOFs however use high temperatures, large amounts toxic solvents and relatively expensive soluble metal sources. If we are ever going to use these materials, therefore, we will need to develop new ways to synthesise them In this paper we report a new low-energy method of making MOFs, which we call ‘accelerated aging’. We show that just by mixing a metal oxide, the organic ligand, and small amount of an ammonium salt catalyst, and leaving the reactants in a warm humid environment for a few days, it is possible to make phase pure MOF. The success of these aging reactions also demonstrates the surprising reactivity of MOFs even without bulk solvent.