Well-Defined Cu2 O/Cu3 (BTC)2 Sponge Architecture as Efficient Phenolics Scavenger: Synchronous Etching and Reduction of MOFs in confined-pH NH3 ⋅H2 O

Fabrication of low-dimensional nano-MOFs as well as nanoparticles/metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) hybrids has sparked new scientific interests but remains a challenging task. Taking Cu3 (BTC)2 as a proof of concept, it is demonstrated thats NH3 ⋅H2 O solution of a confined pH value can readily shape the bulk Cu3 (BTC)2 into nanoscale Cu3 (BTC)2 , beyond the need to control the crystal growth kinetics of MOFs. Adjusting the pH of NH3 ⋅H2 O within a much small range (10-11) allows fine tuning over the size and shape of nanoscale Cu3 (BTC)2 . Particularly at pH = 11, NH3 ⋅H2 O exhibits weak reducibility that triggers a reduction of part of Cu3 (BTC)2 into Cu2 O, while shaping the other into Cu3 (BTC)2 nanowires. Benefiting from the coincidence of reduction and etching effects, the newly generated Cu2 O dots can in situ anchor onto adjacent Cu3 (BTC)2 nanowires at highly dispersive state, forming a well-defined sponge-like architecture built of Cu2 O dots and nano-Cu3 (BTC)2 . The CuOx derived from annealing of the Cu2 O dots/nano-Cu3 (BTC)2 hybrid preserves the sophisticated sponge architecture and high porosity, and exhibits promising applications in phenol scavenging, with efficiency outperforming its counterparts and many other Cu-based catalysts reported in literature. It is anticipated that the findings here pave the way for the rational design of intricate nano-MOFs in a more efficient way.