biostudies-literatureYang SSwiss National Science FoundationKommission für Technologie und InnovationÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne4542-4549https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6498544biostudies-literatureUnknown10(17)Metal-organic frameworks are of interest in a number of host-guest applications. However, their weak coordination bonding often leads to instability in aqueous environments, particularly at extreme pH, and hence, is a challenging topic in the field. In this work, a two-step, post-synthetic polymerization method is used to create a series of highly hydrophobic, stable MOF composites. The MOFs are first coated with thin layers of polydopamine from free-base dopamine under a mild oxygen atmosphere, which then undergoes a Michael addition to covalently graft hydrophobic molecules to the external MOF surface. This easy, mild post-synthetic modification is shown to significantly improve the stability of a number of structurally diverse MOFs including HKUST-1 (Cu), ZIF-67 (Co), ZIF-8 (Zn), UiO-66 (Zr), Cu-TDPAT (Cu), Mg-MOF-74 (Mg) and MIL-100 (Fe) in wet, caustic (acidic and basic) environments as determined by powder X-ray diffraction and surface area measurements.Chemical scienceA new post-synthetic polymerization strategy makes metal-organic frameworks more stable.PMC6498544PYAPP2_160581160581Bulut SSun DTJamali AOveisi EAsgari MQueen WLPeng LYang STrukhina OfalseA new post-synthetic polymerization strategy makes metal-organic frameworks more stable.Metal-organic frameworks are of interest in a number of host-guest applications. However, their weak coordination bonding often leads to instability in aqueous environments, particularly at extreme pH, and hence, is a challenging topic in the field. In this work, a two-step, post-synthetic polymerization method is used to create a series of highly hydrophobic, stable MOF composites. The MOFs are first coated with thin layers of polydopamine from free-base dopamine under a mild oxygen atmosphere, which then undergoes a Michael addition to covalently graft hydrophobic molecules to the external MOF surface. This easy, mild post-synthetic modification is shown to significantly improve the stability of a number of structurally diverse MOFs including HKUST-1 (Cu), ZIF-67 (Co), ZIF-8 (Zn), UiO-66 (Zr), Cu-TDPAT (Cu), Mg-MOF-74 (Mg) and MIL-100 (Fe) in wet, caustic (acidic and basic) environments as determined by powder X-ray diffraction and surface area measurements.2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 May2025-04-19T11:06:51.319Z2019-06-06T23:26:48ZS-EPMC64985443112356310.1039/c9sc00135b