Insights into the copolymerization of metal–organic nanotubes from ligand mixtures using small angle neutron scattering

Metal-organic nanotubes (MONTs) are porous, tunable 1D nanomaterials akin to metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). MONTs are synthesized via metal salts and coordinating ligands akin to MOFs, but crucially they are anisotropic, unlike most MOFs. Recently, MONTs have been shown to form statistically random copolymers; however, their mechanism of growth remains largely unexplored. Full realization of the potential of MONTs necessitates a thorough understanding of the mechanism of MONT growth. Herein, small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) was employed to investigate the copolymerization mechanism of two 1,2,4-ditriazole ligands and to quantify the inclusion of a solvent within the MONT pores. The results show parallelepiped-shaped structures are initially formed, which then aggregate to form larger lamellar structures. Additional experimentation with a deuterated ligand showed that the reactivities of all ligands are approximately equal, causing random ligand distribution within the resulting MONT. Finally, the results quantify the amount of solvent incorporated within the nanostructure pores at different stages of the formation process. These results show that early in the reaction the MONTs contain ca. 45% solvent, and they contain ca. 55% solvent late in the reaction when the MONTs are nearly fully formed.