Water stabilization of Zr6-based metal-organic frameworks via solvent-assisted ligand incorporation.

Water stability in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is critical for several practical applications. While water instability is mainly thought to stem from linker hydrolysis, MOFs with strong, hydrolysis-resistant metal-linker bonds can be susceptible to damage by capillary forces, which cause cavities and channels to collapse during activation from water. This study utilizes metal node functionalization as a strategy to create vapor-stable and recyclable MOFs.