Macro-/microporous MOF composite beads

Abstract

We have prepared a series of metal–organic framework (MOF) composite materials by depositing crystalline MOFs into mm-sized macroporous polyacrylamide (PAM), oxide or oxide–PAM beads using solvothermal methods or immersion in mother solutions. The facile nature of the composite preparation is in part due to the inherent hydrophilicity and processability of the PAM, which bears suitable functionality to interact with the MOF. The resulting composites display hierarchical porosity across the macro- and microporous length scales; the MOF loading level, and hence degree of microporosity in the composites, can be tuned by modulating the concentration of the reactants in the MOF synthesis. The MOF@PAM beads display enhanced mechanical stability and handling over bulk MOF phases in heterogeneous reaction systems, clearly indicating that such materials can improve recovery and recyclability of crystalline MOFs. This is an important step for future applications.