Availability of Zr-Based MOFs for the degradation of nerve agents in all humidity conditions

Organophosphate-based nerve agents are among the most toxic chemical compounds known to mankind. In this report, we studied the degradation of soman (GD) and VX, two of the major nerve agents, by Zr(OH)4 and Zr-based Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) such as MOF-808, UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2 in the neat condition and in non-buffered aqueous solution at room temperature. Unlike Zr(OH)4, relatively less hydrophilic Zr-based MOFs were found to maintain excellent nerve agent decomposition ability, even under high relative humidity and in water. This study's results demonstrated that these Zr-based MOFs are all-weather materials that can be used to decompose nerve agents in all humidity conditions and even in water. The enhancement effect by the amine group of UiO-66-NH2 was not observed for decomposition of nerve agents in the present study, unlike the results obtained in alkaline buffered solution, which were reported previously. It was also demonstrated that MOF-808 with a pore size larger than the UiO-66 series had a better ability to degrade nerve agents.