(183g) Microfluidic Approach Toward Continuous Synthesis of HKUST-1 Using 3D Printing Technology

Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are a class of three-dimensional materials comprised of organic and inorganic building unit cells. The combination of metal ions and organic linkers make it possible to create infinite and diverse micro-porous structures with fascinating properties such as Ultrahigh surface to volume ratio, high porosity, chemical flexibility, good thermostability, and design flexibility have led to various and practical application of MOFs in different fields such as gas storage or separation, heterogeneous catalysis, LED and Sensors, Magnets, and Drug Delivery. During the past two decades, major routes have been reported and employed for the synthesis of MOFs such as hydro/solvothermal, microwave, electrochemical, mechanochemical and flow chemistry. Each synthesis route has its own advantages and disadvantages and is chose based on the application which is desired for the synthesized MOFs as different experimental conditions effect the MOFs structure such as its shape, size or porosity. Moreover, ubiquitous applications of MOFs and as a result, becoming much sought after by industry, necessitates synthesis methods which are relatively cheap, safe and readily scalable. One of the very well-known MOFs is HKUST-1 with chemical formula of (Cu3(BTC)_2­, BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate) and has a structure is an array of three-dimensional dimer units of Cu­₂(H­₂O)₂that are linked together by ,3,5-benzene tricarboxylate (BTC group).In this study we want to employ the previously designed cyclone mixer to get the solubility data for the metal ions and organic linkers in the DMSO, methanol, ethanol and water to get the zone of operation for synthesis of MOFs within the microfluidic device by manipulating the flowrates. Two systems for synthesis are DMSO/ Methanol and ethanol/water. Furthermore, we screen the effect of different ratios of organic solvents on the synthesis of the HKUST-1 by monitoring the induction time of HKUST-1 as a function of ratios of solvents. Growth rate of the MOF structure is further calculated based on face specific growth rates which is eventually evaluated based on the different ratios of the organic solvents.