Preparation of zinc oxide nanoparticles from nanoporous metal–organic framework with one-dimensional channels occupied with guest water molecules

•A nano-porous MOF with guest water molecules has been synthesized and characterized.•The host and the apohost frameworks of it were used for preparation of nano ZnO.•With calcination of the apohost frameworks, agglomerated nanoparticles were formed.•With calcination of the host framework, ZnO nanoparticles can be fabricated.

A new nanoporous metal–organic framework Zn2(NDC)2(DMF)2·(H2O)4 (1·DMF·H2O) [H2NDC = 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid and DMF = N,N′-dimethylformamide], with guest water molecules has been synthesized and characterized. This MOF is made up of a stacked arrangement of four-connected layers. Stacked arrangement of layers results in formation of nanoporous channels. The thermal stabilities of 1·DMF·H2O and 1·DMF were studied by TGA (thermo gravimetric analyses). The host and the apohost frameworks of 1·DMF·H2O, 1·DMF and 1 were used for preparation of ZnO nanomaterials. With calcination of the host framework of 1·DMF·H2O, ZnO nanoparticles can be fabricated. By the same process on the apohost frameworks of 1·DMF and 1, agglomerated nanoparticles of ZnO were formed.

Graphical abstractA nanoporous metal–organic framework with one-dimensional channels occupied with guest water molecules has been synthesized and characterized. The host and the apohost frameworks of it were used for preparation of nano ZnO.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide