Facile preparation of continuous indium metal-organic framework thin films on indium tin oxide glass

Continuous indium metal-organic framework thin films of In12O(OH)12[(OH)4·(H2O)5)][BTC]6 (MIL-96(In)) (BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate) were prepared on indium tin oxide glass by in situ solvothermal growth method. The structure of the films was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The growth process and the possible growth mechanism of MIL-96(In) films were investigated by a scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, the influence of the reaction conditions on the morphology and thickness of films was studied. The best crack-free, continuous film with thickness of approximate 6 μm was obtained at the proper concentrations of InCl3 and H3BTC of 25.0 mmol·l− 1 at 100 °C for 12 h.