Dear Sir,

For characterization of MOFs,after proper solvent washing and drying to eliminate the solvent in the MOF structure.The first characterization is basically TGA-DTA analysis to determine the thermal stability of MOF.It will also help us determine the out-gassing temperature  for BET surface area analysis.If the surface area obtained is large (which depends on the length of organic linker used) mostly >100m2/g.Followed by isotherm studied and single crystal XRD or PXRD .You can compare your PXRD pattarn with once available in the literature.

We basically follow the above protocol pattern in our lab.

Wishing you good MOF hunting

Yes, you can synthesis them easily based on some conditions you need to optimize or standardize for -the crystallization

Various Crystallization techniques used for MOF synthesis

1. Solvothermal reaction in vials - where you use mixture of solvents and heat them to get MOF crystals.

2. Hydrothemral reactions - using only water for the synthesis and heating them till crystallization starts.

3. Hydrothermal/ Solvothermal in Teflon (PTFE lined autoclave) - Where teflon autoclaves are used and high pressure is generated by the vapours of solvents

4. Layering diffusion techniques- Where metal and ligand solutions are layered over each other depending on solution density and let them diffuse into each other slowly and crystallization takes place in 3-4 weeks.

5. Microwave assisted synthesis - where microwave energy is used for instant crystallization or fast crystallization.

For getting powder MOF or microcrystalline MOFs you can use mechanochemical synthesis technique ( either solvent free or solvent assisted) or sonochemical synthesis ( where sonochemical energy is used for the synthesis )

For more insight you can go through some of my papers where I used these techniques to synthesize porous MOFs

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321108620_Frontispiece_Rational_Design_of_a_Bifunctional_Two-Fold_Interpenetrated_Zn_II_-Metal-Organic_Framework_for_Selective_Adsorption_of_CO_2_and_Efficient_Aqueous_Phase_Sensing_of_246-Trinitrophenol

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283902033_Green_Synthesis_of_a_Microporous_Partially_Fluorinated_ZnII_Paddlewheel_Metal-Organic_Framework_H2CO2_Adsorption_Behavior_and_Solid-State_Conversion_to_a_ZnO-C_Nanocomposite

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307871613_Green_synthesis_optical_and_magnetic_properties_of_a_MnII_metal-organic_framework_MOF_that_exhibits_high_heat_of_H2_adsorption?_iepl%5BviewId%5D=cGDeiAuB1C90ASPrmVOPnaSs5saRyp1VJi2m&_iepl%5Bcontexts%5D%5B0%5D=prfhpi&_iepl%5Bdata%5D%5BstandardItemCount%5D=4&_iepl%5Bdata%5D%5BuserSelectedItemCount%5D=5&_iepl%5Bdata%5D%5BtopHighlightCount%5D=2&_iepl%5Bdata%5D%5BstandardItemIndex%5D=3&_iepl%5Bdata%5D%5BstandardItem3of4%5D=1&_iepl%5BtargetEntityId%5D=PB%3A307871613&_iepl%5BinteractionType%5D=publicationTitle

For characterization of new MOF

First thing you need Single crystal XRD of your MOF crystal which will decide its structure.

Then further physical characterization you need to check stability and all that is Thermogravimetric analysis ( to know the stability of your MOF)

FTIR ( Infrared spectroscopy) to know about the functionalization.

UV vis spectroscopy and fluorescence spectra - to know about absorption and emission property of MOF.

CHN element analyzer - to check the phase purity of your crystals.

Powder XRD - to check the phase purity of crystal by matching the PXRD of as synthesized material with simulated one

Then come the applicative part where Applications like selective gas adsorption , gas separation , catalysis, luminescence .

Hope this information helps

For more help in this feel free to contact.