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Title: Facet-Specific Stability of ZIF-8 in the Presence of Acid Gases Dissolved in Aqueous Solutions

Journal Article · · Chemistry of Materials

ZIF-8 is a crystalline microporous material that has been widely studied because of its thermal and chemical stability relative to other metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and its potential for use in a number of gas adsorption, separation, and catalysis applications. However, most studies focus on characterization of the bulk structure of ZIF-8, ignoring the potential effect of the particle shape and the external surface on these applications. This report describes studies that examined the stability of the {110} and {100} crystallographic facets of ZIF-8 under mildly acidic conditions. Though the {110} facet is more thermodynamically stable than the {100} facet, it is found to be more susceptible to degradation by acid exposure. It is hypothesized that the mechanism of particle degradation follows a shrinking-core model, with surface imidazolates being replaced by hydroxyls, as suggested by complementary X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy characterization. Computational investigations support this hypothesis and suggest that the reaction energy for insertion of water into the Zn–MeIm bond is more favorable on the {110} facet than on the {100} facet because of steric constraints. Additionally, the reaction energies are more favorable on both surfaces in the presence of SO2. These findings have implications for the formation of surface barriers that can affect mass transfer into or out of the ZIF crystals. This study represents the first comprehensive investigation of differences between exposed surface facets of a MOF.

Research Organization:
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Center for Understanding and Control of Acid Gas-induced Evolution of Materials for Energy (UNCAGE-ME)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012577
OSTI ID:
1388040
Journal Information:
Chemistry of Materials, Vol. 28, Issue 19; Related Information: UNCAGE-ME partners with Georgia Institute of Technology (lead); Lehigh University; Oak Ridge National Laboratory; University of Alabama; University of Florida; University of Wisconsin; Washington University in St. Louis; ISSN 0897-4756
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 98 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Post‐Synthetic Modification of ZIF‐8 Crystals and Films through UV Light Photoirradiation: Impact on the Physicochemical Behavior of the MOF journal October 2019
Hollow Au-ZnO/CN Nanocages Derived from ZIF-8 for Efficient Visible-Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution from Formaldehyde Alkaline Solution: Hollow Au-ZnO/CN Nanocages Derived from ZIF-8 for Efficient Visible-Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution from Formaldehyde Alkaline Solution journal June 2019
Comparison of Catalytic Activity of ZIF-8 and Zr/ZIF-8 for Greener Synthesis of Chloromethyl Ethylene Carbonate by CO2 Utilization journal January 2020
The structural and surface modification of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks towards reduction of encapsulated CO 2 journal January 2018
A robust photocatalyst of Au 25 @ZIF-8@TiO 2 -ReP with dual photoreductive sites to promote photoelectron utilization in H 2 O splitting to H 2 and CO 2 reduction to CO journal January 2019
Diverse dissolution–recrystallization structural transformations and sequential Förster resonance energy transfer behavior of a luminescent porous Cd-MOF journal January 2017