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 (Cu 3 (C 9 H 3 O 6 ) 2 (H 2 O) 3 · x H 2 O) 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.