Detection of Harmful Gases by Copper-Containing Metal–Organic Framework Films

The stabilization of copper clusters in nanosized metal–organic framework crystals, Cu-Y(BTC), was achieved by a solvent-exchange approach, followed by hydrogen reduction. The formation of copper clusters in the Y(BTC) nanocrystals generated during the hydrogen reduction process was followed by UV–vis spectroscopy. The Cu-Y(BTC) nanocrystals were further assembled in thin films with a thickness of 250 nm. The distribution and size of the copper clusters in the films were studied by CO chemisorption, followed by FT-IR spectroscopy combined with transmission electron microscopy. It was shown that the copper clusters with a mean diameter of 6 nm were homogeneously distributed and stabilized in the Cu-Y(BTC) films. Further, the Cu-Y(BTC) films were utilized for detection of single harmful gases, such as CO, chloroform, and 2-ethylthiophene, or mixtures of two compounds. The high sensitivity, selectivity, and reversibility of the Cu-Y(BTC) films toward single CO, chloroform, and 2-ethylthiophene were demonstra...