Hydrothermal synthesis and structural characterization of zinc glutarate nanocrystals: A metal-organic framework study

Abstract

Zinc glutarate nanocrystals were synthesized via a hydrothermal method and characterized using XRD, SEM, EDAX, FTIR, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. XRD confirmed phase purity with a crystallite size of ∼55 nm, while SEM revealed faceted nanocrystals sized 100–200 nm with uniform morphology. FTIR spectra verified complete coordination of glutarate linkers to zinc centers, and EDAX mapping confirmed homogeneous distribution of Zn, C, and O. UV–Vis absorption showed an edge at 412 nm, corresponding to a direct bandgap of 1.71 eV, consistent with semiconducting zinc–organic frameworks. While porosity and single-crystal diffraction measurements are pending for definitive MOF classification, the hydrothermal approach demonstrates a reliable pathway for producing zinc–glutarate coordination polymers with MOF-like features. These nanocrystals indicate prospective applications in catalysis, environmental remediation, and optoelectronics, though performance studies are the subject of future work.