Metallic Nanoparticles Assimilation within Metal-Organic Framework Monolith

A facile and versatile method is reported for the inclusion of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) within a monolithic metal-organic framework (HKUST-1 MOF). Simple addition of stabilized colloidal AuNPs solution to the reaction mixture at the early stages of the formation of the MOF monolith resulted in quantitative uptake of the AuNPs within the MOF matrix. Several characterization techniques including solution and solid UV-vis spectroscopy, TEM, and XRD indicated the successful immobilization of the AuNPs. Controllable loading of AuNPs was also demonstrated, where gas sorption measurements indicated the maintained microporosity of the AuNPs-containing monoliths. This methodology has wide potential applications in demanding technologies, including sensing and catalysis, where monolithic materials of controllable physicochemical properties can be readily accessible through pore size and guest selectivity of the host MOF matrix controlling access of guest molecules to immobilized AuNPs.