Abstract:
We delineate the growth and stabilization of ultra-small (2-3 nm) {Cu-3(BTC)(2)(H2O)(2)center dot xH(2)O} MOF nanoparticles on a 2D layered aminoclay template. The composite shows significant CO2 uptake (5.35 mmol g(-1) at 298 K, 1 bar; 46% higher than pristine bulk MOF), superior CO2 separation efficiency from CO2/N-2 and CO2/CH4 mixtures and higher catalytic proficiency for chemical fixation of CO2 into cyclic carbonates.