Enhanced adsorption capacity of ZIF-8 for chemical warfare agent simulants caused by its morphology and surface charge

The effective separation of toxic chemicals, including chemical warfare agents (CWAs), from the environment via adsorption is of great importance because such chemicals pose a significant threat to humans and ecosystems. To this end, the development of effective porous adsorbents for CWA removal has received significant attention. Understanding the specific interactions between adsorbents and CWAs must precede for the development of effective adsorbents. Herein, we report the relationship between the adsorption capacity of porous ZIF-8 and its morphological and surface characteristics. Four types of ZIF-8, which have different morphologies (such as cubic, rhombic dodecahedron, and leaf- and plate-shaped samples), were selectively prepared. The four types of ZIF-8 were found to have different surface charges owing to dissimilarly exposed components on the surfaces and additionally incorporated components. The specific surface charges of ZIF-8 were found to be closely related to their adsorption capacities for CWA simulants such as 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) and dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP). Cubic ZIF-8, with the most positive surface charge among four ZIF-8 samples, exhibited the highest adsorption capacity for CEES and DMMP via the effective polar interaction. Moreover, ZIF-8 exhibited excellent recyclability without losing its adsorption capacity and without critical morphological or structural changes.