Mechanochemistry as a Reconstruction Tool of Decomposed Metal-Organic Frameworks

Abstract

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) undergo structural decomposition or phase transformation upon hydration in aqueous media or under harsh conditions, limiting their industrial commercialization. Herein, we present mechanochemical strategies to reconstruct four selected MOFs (MOF-S, MOF-177, UiO-67, and ZIF-65). To verify the effectiveness of this approach, these MOFs were intentionally decomposed in aqueous media and subsequently treated by ball milling under optimized conditions. As confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis and N-2 sorption isotherms, regardless of the MOF degradation pathway, the original structure could be recovered by a tailored mechanochemical reaction. This approach expands the practical applications of MOFs by enabling the regeneration of deteriorated MOFs quickly at a large scale.