Effects of varying water adsorption on a Cu3(BTC)2 metal-organic framework (MOF) as studied by 1H and 13C solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

The process of water adsorption on a dehydrated Cu(3)(BTC)(2) (copper (II) benzene 1,3,5-tricarboxylate) metal-organic framework (MOF) was studied with (1)H and (13)C solid-state NMR. Different relative amounts of water (0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, and 5 mole equivalents with respect to copper) were adsorbed via the gas phase. (1)H and (13)C MAS NMR spectra of dehydrated and water-loaded Cu(3)(BTC)(2) samples gave evidence on the structural changes due to water adsorption within the MOF material as well as information on water dynamics. The analysis of (1)H spinning sideband intensities reveals differences in the (1)H-(63/65)Cu hyperfine coupling between dehydrated and water-loaded samples. The investigation was continued for 60 days to follow the stability of the Cu(3)(BTC)(2) network under humid conditions. NMR data reveal that Cu(3)(BTC)(2) decomposes quite fast with the decomposition being different for different water contents. This journal is © the Owner Societies 2011