Direct Electrochemical Synthesis of Metal-Organic Frameworks: Cu (BTC) and Cu(TCPP) on Copper Thin films and Copper-Based Microstructures.

Cu thin films and Cu O microstructures were partially converted to the Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) Cu (BTC) or Cu(TCPP) using an electrochemical process with a higher control and at milder conditions compared to the traditional solvothermal MOF synthesis. Initially, either a Cu thin film was sputtered, or different kinds of Cu or Cu O microstructures were electrochemically deposited onto a conductive ITO glass substrate. Then, these Cu thin films or Cu-based microstructures were subsequently coated with a thin layer of either Cu (BTC) or Cu(TCPP) by controlled anodic dissolution of the Cu-based substrate at room temperature and in the presence of the desired organic linker molecules: 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (BTC) or photoactive 4,4',4'',4'''-(Porphine-5,10,15,20-tetrayl) tetrakis(benzoic acid) (TCPP) in the electrolyte. An increase in size of the Cu micro cubes with exposed planes [100] of 38,7 % for the Cu O@Cu (BTC) and a 68,9 % increase for the Cu O@Cu(TCPP) was roughly estimated. Finally, XRD, Raman spectroscopy and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy were used to characterize the initial Cu films or Cu-based microstructures, and the obtained core-shell Cu O@Cu(BTC) and Cu O@Cu(TCPP) microstructures.