How the guest molecules in nanoporous Zn(II) metal-organic framework can prevent agglomeration of ZnO nanoparticles

The host and the apohost framework of [Zn2(BDC)2(H2O)2·(DMF)2]n (1·2H2O·2DMF), (BDC2−=benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate and DMF=N,N-Dimethylformamide), were synthesized and subsequently used for preparation of ZnO nanomaterials. With calcination of the host framework of 1·2H2O·2DMF, ZnO nanoparticles were obtained. By the same process on the apohost framework of 1, agglomerated nanoparticles of ZnO were formed. These nano-structures were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These results indicate that with removal of the guest DMF and coordinated H2O molecules from the one-dimensional channels of 1·2H2O·2DMF, the tendency of nanoparticles to agglomerate increases and the role of this MOF in preparation of ZnO nanoparticles from this precursor was reduced. Nano-porous zinc(II) MOF with guest DMF and coordinated H2O molecules has been synthesized and characterized. The host and the apohost framework of it were used for preparation of ZnO nanomaterials. The role of these species in preparation of ZnO nanoparticles from the host framework is probably similar to the role of polymeric stabilizers in formation of nanoparticles. [Display omitted] •Nanoparticles of ZnO were fabricated from nanoporous metal-organic framework.•The effect of guest DMF and coordinated H2O molecules on this process was studied.•The effect of them in formation nanoparticle is similar to polymeric stabilizers.