Polymer-induced polymorphism in a Zn-based metal organic framework.

Several MOF polymorphs exhibit enhanced properties compared to their previously known structures, motivating the development of polymorphic control methods. Here, we study polymorphism in the ZIF-8/ZIF-L system as a function of metal : ligand ratio during synthesis and show a significant shift in the phase transition point towards ZIF-8 with addition of dilute polyethylene oxide during synthesis. Computational results suggest a simple pathway for controlling MOF polymorphism where the choice of polymer can be guided via first-principles simulations.