Rapid Room-Temperature Synthesis and Characterization of Nanocrystals of a Prototypical Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework

Simply reacting Zn(NO3)2·6H2O with an excess of 2-methylimidazole in methanol at room temperature yields well-shaped nanocrystals of ZIF-8 with a narrow size distribution. The rapid growth has been monitored by time-resolved static light scattering. Nanoscale ZIF-8 powder is microporous and thermally stable up to ca. 200 °C.