Resolvation-Based Damage to Metal–Organic Frameworks and Approaches to Mitigation

Metal–organic framework (MOF) activation involves the removal of solvent and other guests by “activation” conditions suited to their specific solvent compatibilities and structural stabilities. When MOFs are used in liquid-phase applications, such as catalysis, they are often activated according to best practices but subsequently submerged in high-surface-tension solvents. The destructive potential of this process is demonstrated here using a range of model systems. Furthermore, a method for avoiding this damage, termed reverse solvent exchange (RSE), is outlined. RSE involves resolvation with low-surface-tension solvents followed by exchange into higher-surface-tension solvents. The efficacy of this protocol is shown for several MOFs, including the highly fragile FJI-1, for which resolvation-induced MOF collapse can be almost entirely ameliorated. This work informs best practices for MOF resolvation by ensuring that MOF function is maximized and that performance results are not convoluted by solvation-induced framework damage.