Tailoring the Nanoporosity and Photoactivity of Metal–Organic Frameworks With Rigid Dye Modulators for Toluene Purification

Abstract

AbstractFacile synthesis of hierarchically porous metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with adjustable porosity and high crystallinity attracts great attention yet remains challenging. Herein, a micromolar amount of dye‐based modulator (Rhodamine B (RhB)) is employed to easily and controllably tailor the pore size of a Ti‐based metal–organic framework (MIL‐125‐NH2). The RhB used in this method is easily removed by washing or photodegradation, avoiding secondary posttreatment. It is demonstrated that the carboxyl functional group and the steric effects of RhB are indispensable for enlarging the pore size of the MIL‐125‐NH2. The resulting hierarchically porous MIL‐125‐NH2 (RH‐MIL‐125‐NH2) exhibits optimized adsorption and photocatalytic activity because the newly formed mesopore with defects concurrently facilitates mass transport of guest molecules (toluene) and photogenerated charge separation. This work offers a meaningful basis for the construction of hierarchically porous MOFs and demonstrates the superiority of the hierarchical pore structure for adsorption and heterogeneous catalysis.