Modulated synthesis of monodisperse MOF-5 crystals with tunable sizes and shapes

We report on a modulated synthesis method that enables the preparation of monodisperse MOF-5 crystals with tunable sizes and shapes. This controlled synthesis involves the base-tuned nucleation and the surfactant-modulated facet growth of MOF-5 during its crystallization. Systematic reactions with triethylamine (TEA) as additional base and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as capping agent were investigated. Under optimized experimental conditions, monodisperse MOF-5 cubes (with tunable sizes ranging from ~400 nm to ~2500 nm), truncated cubes, truncated octahedrons, and octahedrons could be produced with high reproducibility.