Visualizing the {110} surface structure of equilibrium-form ZIF-8 crystals by low-dose Cs-corrected TEM. Issue 31 (27th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Han, Xiaocang; Chen, Wenqian; Su, Rui; Tian, Yuan; Liu, Pan; Guan, Pengfei; Luo, Min; Han, Jiuhui; Cao, Xiaoxiao; Pan, Ming; Chen, Mingwei
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale. Volume 13:Issue 31(2021)
• Page Start: 13215
• Page End: 13219
• Publication Date: 2021-07-27
• Subjects: Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/d1nr03829j
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-3364

Abstract

Abstract : The zigzag-type {110} surface termination of ZIF-8 rhombic dodecahedral crystals synthesized in methanol was demonstrated by low-dose Cs-corrected HRTEM and solvent corrected surface energy calculations. Abstract : The properties of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) crystals highly depend on the structures of the low-energy surfaces, such as {110} of ZIF-8. However, the atomic/molecular configurations of the ZIF-8 {110} surfaces remain debated. In this study, the near-atomic-scale characterization of {110} surfaces of ZIF-8 is conducted by low-dose aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The real-space images with mitigated surface delocalization by minimized spherical aberration of TEM, together with the solvent corrected surface energy calculations, demonstrate that the {110} surfaces of ZIF-8 crystals with an equilibrium-form rhombic morphology have a zigzag-type termination. This study provides experimental evidence to clarify the debated structure of {110} ZIF-8 surfaces and has important implications in understanding the crystal growth and surface related properties of ZIF-8.