Boosting catalytic performance of metal-organic framework by increasing the defects via a facile and green approach

The control of defects in crystalline materials has long been of significance since the defects are correlated with the performances of the materials. Yet such control remains a challenge for metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which are usually well crystallized under hydro/solvo-thermal conditions. In this contribution, we demonstrate for the first time how to increase the defects of MOF via a facile and green approach as exemplified in the context of solvent-free synthesis of UiO-66(Zr). Such increase of defects leads to drastic enhancement of catalysis performance when compared to UiO-66(Zr) prepared from conventional hydro/solvo-thermal synthesis. Our work therefore not only opens a new door for boosting the catalytic activities of MOFs, but also contributes a new approach to control the defects in crystalline materials for various applications.