Submicron Particles of Metal–Organic Framework HKUST-1 with Negative Surface Charge and Their Electrophoretic Deposition on ITO

Negatively charged submicron-sized metal organic framework crystals (HKUST-1) were prepared using the 4-sulfobenzoic acid potassium salt as a crystal growth modulator. As shown by dynamic light scattering, average particle size was 730-370 nm depending on the sulfobenzoate content. Thin films of the obtained MOFs were successfully deposited on an indium tin oxide electrode using electrophoretic deposition. It was shown that the HKUST-1 crystals could act as seeds for larger crystals growth.