Amorphization of the prototypical zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-8 by ball-milling

Chem Commun (Camb). 2012 Aug 14;48(63):7805-7. doi: 10.1039/c2cc33773h. Epub 2012 Jul 4.

Abstract

We report the rapid amorphization of the prototypical substituted zeolitic imidazolate framework, ZIF-8, by ball-milling. The resultant amorphous ZIF-8 (a(m)ZIF-8) possesses a continuous random network (CRN) topology with a higher density and a lower porosity than its crystalline counterpart. A decrease in thermal stability upon amorphization is also evident.