Enhanced Synthesis of Metal-Organic Frameworks on the Surface of Electrospun Cellulose Nanofibers

This study reports the in situ crystal growth of HKUST-1 on electrospun cellulose nanofibers. Two different methods for introducing carboxyl groups on the nanofiber surface were used; HKUST-1 was then synthesized on the cellulose nanofiber surface using a layer-by-layer approach. The distribution of HKUST-1 on the nanofiber surface was highly dependent on the type of anionic pretreatment. The loading of HKUST-1 on the nanofiber surface could be controlled by the layer-by-layer synthesis and the BET surface area could be increased by a factor of 44 to 440 m2 g-1.