Synthesis, activation, and characterization of intentionally designed metal-organic framework materials is challenging, especially when building blocks are incompatible or unwanted polymorphs are thermodynamically favored over desired forms. We describe how applications of solvent-assisted linker exchange, powder X-ray diffraction in capillaries and activation via supercritical CO2 drying, can address some of these challenges.
Karagiaridi, O., Bury, W., Sarjeant, A. A., Hupp, J. T., Farha, O. K. Synthesis and Characterization of Functionalized Metal-organic Frameworks. J. Vis. Exp. (91), e52094, doi:10.3791/52094 (2014).