Oriented Growth of the Metal Organic Framework Cu3(BTC)2(H2O)3·xH2O Tunable with Functionalized Self-Assembled Monolayers

The tunable oriented growth of thin films of the porous framework HKUST-1 (Cu3(C9H3O6)2(H2O)3·xH2O) on different functionalized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) is demonstrated. Films grown on carboxylate-terminated self-assembled monolayers are highly oriented along the 100 direction, while alcohol-terminated surfaces induce a completely different orientation along the 111 direction. Homogeneous but less oriented thin films are also obtained on methyl-terminated SAMs. A combination of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy was used to document the film growth on the self-assembled monolayers and to follow the morphological evolution of the crystalline phases.