MXene Derived Metal-Organic Frameworks

Synthesis of nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is a highly challenging task because conventional soluble metal salt precursors are not easy to manipulate spatially, thus normally leading to bulk MOFs. In the present work, V₂CT MXene is demonstrated for the first time as a metal precursor to fabricate two-dimensional (2D) MOF nanosheets, whose thickness (6 to 18 nm) can be tuned by varying the reaction temperature. The highly electronegative surface atoms of MXene and sufficient accessible attacking sites for ligands are responsible for the evolution of 2D MOF nanosheets. Moreover, highly oriented and smooth MOF thin films have been grown based on these nanosheets using a convenient spin coating process. With the impregnation of nonvolatile H₃PO₄, the MOF thin film exhibits a proton-conducting property. This study demonstrates that high-quality 2D MOF sheets and thin films are enabled by 2D MXene precursors. We believe that the high-quality MOF films prepared in this study pave the way for many device applications.