Description
Key Properties & Advantages
UiO-66’s enduring utility stems from its intrinsic structural strengths and modifiable framework:
Exceptional Stability: Outperforms most MOFs in chemical and thermal resilience—withstands temperatures up to 400°C (under inert conditions), resists degradation in acids (pH ≥ 2), bases (pH ≤ 12), and organic solvents, and maintains integrity in aqueous environments. This stability ensures longevity in practical applications where other MOFs fail.
Tunable Framework: Its flexible structure supports diverse modification strategies:
Doping: Incorporation of metal ions (e.g., Fe, Cu, Ti) into zirconium clusters to introduce catalytic or photocatalytic activity.
Post-Synthetic Modification: Functional groups (e.g., -NH₂, -OH, -COOH) can be grafted onto ligands to enhance selectivity in adsorption, coordination, or biocompatibility.
Pore Engineering: Adjustment of ligand length or linker chemistry to tailor pore size (typically 0.8–1.2 nm) and surface area (BET 1000–1500 m²/g) for target molecules.
High Coordination Capability: Zirconium clusters offer abundant coordination sites, enabling strong interactions with guest molecules, metal nanoparticles, or biomolecules—critical for catalysis, sensing, and drug delivery.
Structural Integrity: Retains its ordered porous network even after modification, ensuring consistent performance in applications requiring mass transport (e.g., adsorption, catalysis).
Modification Strategies
UiO-66’s tunability is enabled by its adaptable framework, supporting precise customization:
Doping: Introduction of heteroatoms (e.g., Hf, Ce) or metal ions (e.g., Ru, Co) into the zirconium clusters to modify electronic properties, enhance catalytic activity, or enable photocatalytic responses (e.g., light-driven water splitting).
Post-Synthetic Modification (PSM): Chemical functionalization of ligands after synthesis, such as:
Grafting amine (-NH₂), hydroxyl (-OH), or carboxyl (-COOH) groups to improve hydrophilicity or selectivity for polar molecules.
Covalent linking of biomolecules (e.g., peptides, antibodies) for targeted biomedical applications.
Ligand Exchange: Partial or full replacement of terephthalate ligands with functionalized linkers (e.g., fluorinated, sulfonated) to adjust porosity, surface chemistry, or reactivity.
Applications Across Fields
Catalysis & Photocatalysis
Heterogeneous Catalysis: Serves as a stable support for metal nanoparticles (e.g., Pd, Pt) or as an intrinsic catalyst via zirconium’s Lewis acidity, enabling reactions like hydrogenation, oxidation, and CO₂ conversion.
Photocatalysis: Modified UiO-66 (e.g., with Ti doping or dye sensitization) drives light-induced reactions such as water splitting for H₂ production, pollutant degradation, and CO₂ photoreduction to fuels.
Adsorption & Separation
Gas Separation: Tuned pores and functional groups enable selective adsorption of gases (e.g., CO₂/N₂, H₂/CH₄), supporting carbon capture, natural gas purification, and hydrogen storage.
Liquid-Phase Adsorption: Removes pollutants (e.g., heavy metals, dyes, pharmaceuticals) from water via ligand-metal interactions or hydrophobic/hydrophilic effects, depending on modifications.
Sensing
Molecular Sensing: Functionalized UiO-66 (e.g., with fluorescent groups or metal ions) detects target analytes (e.g., heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, biomolecules) via changes in luminescence, conductivity, or adsorption behavior.
Environmental Sensing: Its stability in aqueous media makes it suitable for real-time monitoring of water or air quality.
Biomedical Applications
Drug Delivery: Biocompatible zirconium framework and porous structure enable controlled encapsulation and release of drugs, with modifications (e.g., -NH₂ groups) enhancing targeting to specific tissues.
Imaging: Doped UiO-66 (e.g., with rare-earth ions) acts as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or fluorescence imaging, leveraging its stability in biological environments.
Technical Specifications
Parameter Details
Chemical Composition Zirconium oxide clusters linked by terephthalate ligands (Zr₆O₄(OH)₄(bdc)₆, where bdc = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate)
Appearance White to off-white crystalline powder
BET Surface Area 1000–1500 m²/g
Pore Size ~1.0 nm (uniform microporous network)
Thermal Stability Up to 400°C (inert atmosphere)
Chemical Stability Stable in pH 2–12 aqueous solutions, organic solvents, and dilute acids/bases
Quality Assurance
Each batch of UiO-66 undergoes rigorous characterization to ensure structural integrity and performance consistency:
X-ray diffraction (XRD) to confirm phase purity and crystallinity.
Nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis to verify surface area and pore size distribution.
Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) to validate thermal stability.
Stability testing in relevant solvents and pH conditions for application-specific reliability.
A certificate of analysis (CoA) is provided with each order, ensuring suitability for both research and industrial use.
Packaging & Storage
Available in 1g, 5g, 10g, and bulk quantities, packaged in airtight, moisture-resistant containers to preserve porosity and stability. Store at room temperature in a dry environment. Shelf life is ≥12 months under proper storage conditions.
Why Choose UiO-66?
UiO-66 redefines versatility in MOFs by combining unmatched stability with exceptional tunability. Whether you need a catalyst support, a selective adsorbent, a sensing platform, or a biomedical carrier, its ability to integrate targeted functionalities—while maintaining structural robustness—makes it an indispensable tool for innovation.
Contact our technical team for modified variants (e.g., doped or functionalized UiO-66), bulk pricing, or application-specific guidance.
For research and industrial use only. Not intended for medical or diagnostic applications unless specified.
