Economical, environmental friendly synthesis, characterization for the production of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanoparticles with enhanced CO2 adsorption

Zeolitic imidazole framework 8 (ZIF-8) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized in an aqueous solution at the ambient condition with a relatively low molar ratio of zinc salt and an organic ligand, Zn+2/Hmim (1: 8). ZIF-8 has remarkable thermal and chemical stability, tunable microporous structure, and a great potential for absorption, adsorption, and separation. Various physicochemical characterization techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), attenuated total reflected infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and surface area with pore textural properties by micromeritics gas adsorption equipment were performed to investigate the effect of base type additive triethylamine (TEA) on the morphology, crystallinity, yield, particle and crystal size, thermal stability and microporosity of ZIF-8 nanoparticles. The total quantity of basic sites and carbon dioxide (CO2) desorption aptitude was also calculated using CO2 temperature-programmed desorption (CO2-TPD) system. The pure ZIF-8 nanoparticles of 177 nm were formed at TEA/total mole ratio of 0.002. Furthermore, the size of ZIF-8 nanoparticles was decreased to 77 nm with increasing TEA/total mole ratio up to 0.004. The structures, particle sizes and textural properties of ammonia modified ZIF-8 particle can easily be tailored by the amount of aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution. The smallest ZIF-8 nanoparticles obtained were 75 nm after ammonia modification which shows excellent thermal stability and improved microporosity. The ZIF-8 basicity and uptakes of CO2 improved with TEA and ammonia modification which followed the order: A25ml–Z4 > Z4 > Z3 > Z5 > Z2 > A50ml–Z4. The proposed economical and efficient synthesis method has great potential for large-scale production of ZIF-8.