Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 22 No 3 (2018): 553 - 560

RAPID SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF LEAF-LIKE ZEOLITIC IMIDAZOLATE FRAMEWORK

(Sintesis Cepat dan Pencirian Kerangka Seperti Daun Imidazolat Zeolitik)

Imran Ullah Khan^{1, 2, 3}, Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman^1*, Juhana Jaafar¹, Haslenda Hashim³, Ahmad Fauzi Ismail¹, Mukhlis A Rahman¹, Norafiqah Ismail¹

¹Advance Membrane Technology Research Center (AMTEC), Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering,

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

²School of Chemical and Material Engineering (SCME),

National University of Science and Technology (NUST), H-12, Islamabad, Pakistan

³Process System Engineering Centre (PROSPECT), Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering,

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

*Corresponding author: hafiz@petroleum.utm.my

Received: 16 April 2017; Accepted: 7 March 2018

Abstract

A two-dimensional zeolitic imidazolate framework with a leaf-like structure (ZIF-L) was synthesized in aqueous solution at room temperature with a molar ratio of Zn⁺²/Hmim (1: 8). Various triethylamine (TEA) concentrations were also used for the rapid production of ZIF-L. Different characterization techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were performed to investigate the effect of base type additive triethylamine (TEA) on the crystal morphology, crystallinity, particle size and thermal stability of ZIF-L particles. From the experimental results, it was found that ZIF-L with a particle size of 5.3 μm was formed at TEA/total mole ratio of 0, but particle size was decreased when TEA/total mole ratio was increased up to 0.0003. The smallest ZIF-L particles obtained were 3 μm that showed excellent thermal stability. It can be concluded that this promising synthesis method with base-type additive would provide the new insights in the development of ZIFs materials in economical ways.

Keywords: zeolitic imidazolate framework, leaf-like structure, base-type additive, characterization, particle size

Abstrak

Kerangka imidazolat zeolitik dua dimensi dengan struktur seperti daun (ZIF-L) telah disintesis dalam larutan akueus pada suhu bilik. Trietilamina (TEA) pelbagai kepekatan juga digunakan untuk penghasilan cepat ZIF-L. Teknik-teknik pencirian yang berbeza seperti pembelauan sinar-X (XRD), mikroskop imbasan elektron pancaran medan (FESEM), mikroskop transmisi elektron (TEM) dan analisis termogravimetri (TGA) telah dijalankan untuk menyiasat kesan jenis asas tambahan trietilamina (TEA) pada morfologi kristal, penghabluran, saiz zarah dan kestabilan haba zarah ZIF-L. Daripada keputusan eksperimen, ianya didapati bahawa ZIF-L dengan saiz zarah 5.3 μm terbentuk pada nisbah molekul TEA/jumlah 0, tetapi saiz zarah berkurangan apabila nisbah TEA/jumlah mol meningkat sehingga 0.0003. Partikel ZIF-L yang terkecil diperoleh adalah 3 μm yang menunjukkan kestabilan terma yang sangat baik. Sebagai kesimpulan, kaedah sintesis cepat ini berpotensi dengan bahan tambahan jenis asas akan memberikan gambaran baru dalam pembangunan bahan ZIF lebih ekonomik.

Kata kunci:  kerangka imidazolat zeolitik, struktur seperti daun, asas-jenis bahan tambahan, pencirian, saiz zarah

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