Well-Defined Cu2O/Cu3(BTC)2 Sponge Architecture as Efficient Phenolics Scavenger: Synchronous Etching and Reduction of MOFs in confined-pH NH3⋅H2O

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 Cu 3 (BTC) 2 as a proof of concept, it is demonstrated thats NH 3 ⋅H 2 O solution of a confined pH value can readily shape the bulk Cu 3 (BTC) 2 into nanoscale Cu 3 (BTC) 2 , beyond the need to control the crystal growth kinetics of MOFs. Adjusting the pH of NH 3 ⋅H 2 O within a much small range (10–11) allows fine tuning over the size and shape of nanoscale Cu 3 (BTC) 2 . Particularly at pH = 11, NH 3 ⋅H 2 O exhibits weak reducibility that triggers a reduction of part of Cu 3 (BTC) 2 into Cu 2 O, while shaping the other into Cu 3 (BTC) 2 nanowires. Benefiting from the coincidence of reduction and etching effects, the newly generated Cu 2 O dots can in situ anchor onto adjacent Cu 3 (BTC) 2 nanowires at highly dispersive state, forming a well-defined sponge-like architecture built of Cu 2 O dots and nano-Cu 3 (BTC) 2 . The CuO x derived from annealing of the Cu 2 O dots/nano-Cu 3 (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.