Synthesis of MOF Nanosheets in Hyperswollen Lyotropic Lamellar Phase

Abstract

We have synthesized very thin nanosheets (NSs) of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in sandwich-like reaction fields (SRFs) inside the bilayers of a hyperswollen lyotropic lamellar (HL) phase. The obtained samples were characterized by means of infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements. The thickness and horizontal width of the MOF-NSs obtained from the synthesis in the SRFs in the HL phase are a few nanometres and several hundreds of nanometres, respectively. The accumulation and reaction of ingredients in the highly separated bilayers in the HL phase should result in a dilute aqueous suspension of very thin MOF-NSs.

Keywords:

• nanosheet
• hyperswollen lyotropic lamellar phase
• metal organic framework

Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) “Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO)” for a project of “Molecular Technology and Creation of New Function”. The TEM measurements were carried out by using a facility in the Research Center for Ultrahigh Voltage Electron Microscopy, Osaka University.