Formation of a nanohybrid composite between mesostructured cellular silica foam and microporous copper trimesate

A metal-organic framework HKUST-1 or Cu-3(BTC)(2) was synthesized in mesopores of a COOH functionalized mesostructured cellular silica foam (MCF(M)-COOH), resulting in a hydrophobic nanocomposite. The Cu-3(BTC)(2) formed in the MCF(M)-COOH has been prepared by a microwave method with sequential incorporation of copper nitrate and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid in a water/ethanol mixture containing the MCF(M)-COOH. The nanocomposite was characterized by XRD, BET, FT-IR, TEM and solid state C-13 NMR. The nanocomposite had a higher hydrophobic property than pure Cu-3(BTC)(2) and MCF(M)-COOH as a result of their hybridization. Moreover, the formation of the nanocomposite increased the sorption rate of cyclohexane vapor as compared with those of pure Cu-3(BTC)(2) and MCF(M)-COOH due to the increased hydrophobicity. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.