Charge-Assisted Self-Assembly of ZIF-8 and Laponite Clay toward a Functional Hydrogel Nanocomposite.

The fabrication of a gel through the self-assembly of a nanoscale metal-organic framework is extremely rare. Here we report the facile synthesis of new hydrogel nanocomposites by the surface coating of ZIF-8 nanoparticles with laponite (LP) nanoclay through electrostatic interaction. The hydrogel exhibits a pH-controlled release of encapsulated guest molecules. Also, a luminescent hydrogel nanocomposite is prepared by encapsulating dye into ZIF-8, followed by gelation with LP.