Ultra-thin metal-organic framework nanoribbons

Structure engineering of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) at the nanometer scale is attracting increasing interest due to their unique properties and new functions that normally cannot be achieved in bulk MOF crystals. Here, we report the preparation of ultra-thin MOF nanoribbons (NRBs) by using metal-hydroxide nanostructures as the precursors. Importantly, this general method can be used to synthesize various kinds of ultra-thin MOF NRBs, such as MBDC (M = Co, Ni; BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate), NiCoBDC, CoTCPP (TCPP = tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin) and MIL-53(Al) NRBs. As a proof-of-concept application, the as-prepared ultra-thin CoBDC NRBs have been successfully used as a fluorescent sensing platform for DNA detection, which exhibited excellent sensitivity and selectivity. The present strategy might open an avenue to prepare MOF nanomaterials with new structures and unique properties for various promising applications.