Facile Guest-Mediated Method for Gram-Scale Synthesis of Superhydrophilic Metal–Organic Frameworks

Abstract

Superhydrophilic metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are ideal materials for many applications in an aqueous environment, such as catalysis, drug delivery, and pollute absorption. However, current approaches fail to provide either an efficient way to enhance inside aqueous diffusion or a facile method for mass production. Here, aiming at the above issues, we presented a guest-mediated strategy to rapidly produce superhydrophilic MOFs in gram scale, based on the interaction between polarized polyoxometalate guests and hydrophobic channels. Experimental observation and theoretical simulation show that the assembled guests induced aqueous diffusion into channels, promoting water transportation. The confirmatory biocatalytic application indicated enhanced water filtration and mass transfer in MOFs, which was manifested by efficient substrate conversion in biological buffers. Because this strategy was generally valid to a variety of MOFs, it would unleash the potential of MOFs in an aqueous environment and bring many possibilities to this field.