Mohamad Hmadeh
American University of Beirut, Lebanon
Title: Structural features and functions of ZIF crystals made via a reaction diffusion process at room temperature
Biography
Biography: Mohamad Hmadeh
Abstract
We report the synthesis of a range of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) using a reaction-diffusion framework (RDF). As the imidazolate linkers diffuse into an agar gel matrix containing the divalent metal (zinc and/or cobalt), it reacts to give the corresponding ZIF. The coupling of reaction-diffusion with nucleation, growth and impingement of the growing particles leads into controlling the particle size distribution between 50 nm and 10 μm. By varying the temperature, the concentration of the reagents, and the thickness of the gel matrix, control of the size and morphology of the ZIF crystals is achieved. Also, we show that by using the RDF, we are able to visualize the formation mechanism of ZIF crystals. This novel method for synthesizing ZIFs is rapid, scalable, and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, the effect of cobalt-doping on the photocatalytic properties of ZIF crystals is explored by examining the extent of methylene blue (MB) degradation by each ZIF under visible- light irradiation.
Figure 1: Synthesis of ZIFs via reaction diffusion framework.
Recent Publications:
1.M Al-Ghoul, R Issa, M Hmadeh (2017) Synthesis and structural evolution of metal-organic framework-199 via reaction diffusion process at room temperature. CrystEngComm 19: 608-612.
2.Z Moussa, M Hmadeh, M G Abiad, O H Dib, D Patra (2016) Encapsulation of curcumin in cyclodextrin-metal organic frameworks: Dissociation of loaded CD-MOFs enhances stability of curcumin. Food Chemistry 212: 485-494.
3.D Saliba, A Ezzeddine, R Sougrat, N M Khashab, M Hmadeh, Mazen Al-Ghoul (2016) Synthesis of CdAl layered double hydroxide hierarchical microspheres via a reaction-diffusion framework and their photocatalytic activity for CO2 reduction. ChemSusChem 9: 800-805.
4.A A Jelle, M Hmadeh, P G O’Brien, D D Perovic, G A Ozin (2016) Photocatalytic properties of all four polymorphs of nanostructured iron oxyhydroxides. ChemNanoMater 2: 1047-1054.
