Controllable synthesis of highly uniform cuboid-shape MOFs and their derivatives for lithium-ion battery and photocatalysis applications

Size and shape controlled, in particular, scaling-down synthesis of uniform metal organic frameworks (MOFs) is a challenge. Importantly, MOFs derivatives have received great interest in energy fields owing to their highly porous structure and large surface areas. Here, we demonstrate the controllable large-scale synthesis of highly uniform cuboid-shape MOFs using an eco-friendly method at room temperature. The cuboid-shape ZIF-L is first synthesized until now. We have also explored its derivatives, which are applied in the fields of lithium-ion batteries. As a result, ZnCo2O4 cuboids demonstrate high discharge capacity of 995 mA h g(-1) at 100 mA for the second cycle, high rate capacity of 482 mA h at 3 A g(-1), and long-term cyclic stability up to 250 cycles at 500 mAg(-1). The porous ZnO cuboids exhibit good photocatalytic activity by degrading dyes (MB, RhB, and MO). The results demonstrate that ZIF-L cuboids and their derivatives have a good application prospect. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.