Controllable synthesis of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks with rod-like or delta-shaped morphologies at oil-water interface

•ZIF-8 crystals with rod or delta morphology are regulated in oil-water interface, respectively.•The growth of ZIF-8 crystals lies on the concentration gradient along the interface of two phases.•This interfacial synthesis can be applied to other ZIF crystals, such as ZIF-1 and ZIF-67.

Zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) has attracted extensive application in gas adsorption, membrane separation and catalysis. It has been demonstrated that the morphology is crucial for the physical and chemical properties. In this work, ZIF-8 crystals with rod or delta morphology are regulated by interface synthesis. The preferred growth of specific crystalline face is controlled at oil-water interface and results in uniform ZIF-8 crystals with various morphologies. Solvents types and feeding concentrations play crucial roles in crystalline growth. This method can be extended to other materials synthesis, such as ZIF-1 and ZIF-67 crystals. The interface synthesis approach may provide insight to promote advanced materials fabrication and achieve better materials function.

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