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Updated: Aug 23, 2025

Synthesis and Characterization of Functionalized Metal-organic Frameworks
Published on: September 5, 2014
Superior Metal-Organic Framework Activation with Dimethyl Ether
Keenan R Wright1, Karabi Nath1, Adam J Matzger2,1
1Department of Chemistry, Institution University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA.
Abstract:
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are demonstrated to be readily activated by treatment with the low surface tension, low boiling point solvent dimethyl ether (DME). The mildness of the method enables access to high surface areas by avoiding structural changes in the framework that often plague thermal activation methods. A distinction from previous methods is that DME activation succeeds for materials with coordinatively unsaturated sites (CUS) and non-CUS MOFs as well. DME displaces solvent molecules occupying the pores of the MOF as well as those coordinated to metal centers; reducing evacuation temperature by using a coordinating, yet highly volatile guest enables low temperature activation with structural retention as demonstrated surface area measurements that match or exceed existing activation protocols.
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