Liesegang Banding for Controlled Size and Growth of Zeolitic-Imidazolate Frameworks

Rita Zakhia Douaihy; Mazen Al-Ghoul; Mohamad Hmadeh

doi:10.1002/smll.201901605

Liesegang Banding for Controlled Size and Growth of Zeolitic-Imidazolate Frameworks

Small. 2019 Jul;15(28):e1901605. doi: 10.1002/smll.201901605. Epub 2019 May 30.

Authors

Rita Zakhia Douaihy¹, Mazen Al-Ghoul¹, Mohamad Hmadeh¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Chemistry, American University of Beirut, PO Box 11-0236, Riad El Solh, Beirut, 1107-2020, Lebanon.

PMID: 31148394
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201901605

Abstract

Here, the formation of periodic precipitation (Liesegang bands) from hybrid (organic-inorganic) components is reported, namely ZIF-8, ZIF-67, and their mixed metal derivatives. The spacing and width laws that characterize the Liesegang system are determined and the resulting pattern is exploited to crystal engineer various sizes and doping of the ZIF material. Several key parameters that govern the crystallization process of ZIF-8 are investigated in each band and the growth of the particles in each band is found to follow an Ostwald ripening mechanism.

Keywords: controlled size; crystal growth; mixed metals; periodic precipitation; zeolitic imidazolate frameworks.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't