The influence of green synthesis on the formation of various copper benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate compounds

Morphologies of Cu3(BTC)2(H2O)3·10H2O (1) and Cu2(OH)(BTC)(H2O)·2H2O (2) compound. [Display omitted] •2 phases of CuBTC were synthesized by changing the one-pot synthesis method.•Both phases have different characteristic and adsorption capacity against MB dye.•The SEM images of [Cu2(OH)(BTC)(H2O)]n·2nH2O (2) that never been reported. Synthesis of metal organic framework (MOF), copper benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate was carried out at room temperature using water as solvent. Experimental results show that microporous Cu3(BTC)2(H2O)3·10H2O (1) or Cu2(OH)(BTC)(H2O)·2H2O (2) (BTC = benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate) were formed depending on the rate of formation of MOF’s in similar synthesis systems. The octahedral shape Cu3(BTC)2(H2O)3·10H2O (1) was formed when the crystallization occurred slowly while Cu2(OH)(BTC)(H2O)·2H2O (2) which was produced when the crystallization occurred quickly has an extended rod shape feature. The samples were characterised under infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and N2 adsorption desorption using the BET method. The Cu3(BTC)2(H2O)3·10H2O (1) shows a greater characteristic in terms of crystallinity, specific surface area, specific pore volume and adsorption capacity against methylene blue (MB) dye compared to Cu2(OH)(BTC)(H2O)·2H2O (2).