Synthesis and carbon dioxide capture properties of flower-shaped zeolitic imidazolate framework-L

Flower-shaped zeolitic imidazolate framework-L (ZIF-L) nanostructures were synthesized by a coordination control method. The various factors influencing the growth of the flower-shaped ZIF-L include the quantity of H2O2, reaction time and temperature, and the formation process and the mechanism were investigated. The results showed that H2O2 plays an induction role in the growth of crystal nuclei. Using the cleaning regulator, H2O2, flower-like ZIF-L with a high yield was produced in a short time at room temperature, and the fluorescence enhancement products were prepared at high temperature. Meanwhile, the CO2 adsorption capacity of flower-shaped ZIF-L was 1.15 mmol g−1 at room temperature and 1 bar, which was higher than that of the two-dimensional ZIF-L. This outstanding CO2 capture performance is attributed primarily to the hierarchical flower-shaped micro/nanostructure which is resistant to leaf aggregation and stacking, thus increasing the CO2 adsorption capability. These results may open a new avenue for the development of ZIF-L nanocrystals with a controlled morphology, which will be widely applied in luminescence analysis, gas sensing, separation and storage.