Engineering Ca-BTC MOF Nanorods with Electrochemical and Luminescent Functionalities
9 affiliations
- 1Advanced Materials Division, Potosino Institute for Scientific and Technological Research (IPICYT), San Luis Potosí 78216, Mexico
- 2Faculty of Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
- 3SECIHTI, Division of Sciences, Engineering, and Technology, Autonomous University of the State of Quintana Roo (UQROO), Chetumal 77019, Mexico
- 4Center for Nanosciences and Micro and Nanotechnologies (CNMN), National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), Gustavo A. Madero, Mexico City 07738, Mexico
- 5Department of Physics, Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM), Iztapalapa, Mexico City 09310, Mexico
- 6Faculty of Basic Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Autonomous University of Tlaxcala (UATx), Apizaco 90401, Mexico
- 7Biodiversity Conservation Department, San Cristóbal de las Casas Campus, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), San Cristóbal de las Casas 29290, Mexico
- 8Center for Research in Semiconductor Devices, Institute of Sciences, Meritorious Autonomous University of Puebla (BUAP), Puebla 72570, Mexico
- 9Computer Engineering Program, Polytechnic University of the State of Morelos (UPEMOR), Jiutepec 62574, Mexico
Abstract
Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as versatile materials for advanced applications due to their exceptional structural diversity, high surface areas, and tunable porosity. Among them, calcium-based MOFs (Ca-MOFs) are attracting significant interest owing to the natural abundance, low cost, and biocompatibility of calcium. In this work, a calcium benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (Ca-BTC) MOF was successfully synthesized and characterized as a multifunctional material. X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of the crystalline Ca3(BTC)2 phase, in agreement with the simulated pattern derived from the reported single-crystal structure. Electron microscopy revealed a nanorod morphology and ordered crystalline regions at the nanoscale, while Raman spectroscopy provided evidence of Ca–O coordination and the characteristic carboxylate bonding of the BTC linker. Under 365 nm excitation, the Ca-BTC MOF exhibited a bluish-white emission with significantly higher intensity than that obtained under 265 nm excitation, together with an average luminescence lifetime of 51.48 ms and a photoluminescence quantum yield of 7.7%. The higher emission intensity under near-UV excitation highlights its potential as a phosphor for pc-WLED applications. The electrochemical performance of Ca-BTC was evaluated in a solid-state supercapacitor (SC) assembled with graphene-based electrodes and a phosphoric acid electrolyte. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated a specific capacitance of 296.5 F g−1 at 25 mV s−1, together with excellent cycling stability, retaining 97.8% of its initial capacitance after 1000 charge–discharge cycles. These findings demonstrate that the Ca-BTC MOF combines a crystalline structure, long-lived bluish-white luminescence, and electrochemical charge-storage properties, making it a promising candidate for optoelectronic and energy-storage applications.
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BibTeX
@article{garcespatino2026engineering,
title = {{Engineering Ca-BTC MOF Nanorods with Electrochemical and Luminescent Functionalities}},
author = {Luis A. Garcés-Patiño and Esmeralda L. Martínez-Piñeiro and Edith Osorio-de-la-Rosa and Nicolás Cayetano-Castro and Ulises Caldiño and Fernando Pérez-Villaseñor and Mirna Valdez-Hernández and Marisol Hernández-Gutiérrez and Cristian A. Ospina-DeLaCruz and Ángel Castro-Agüero and Arturo Ortiz-Arroyo and Abraham Pacio-Castillo and Dulce Y. Medina-Velázquez},
journal = {Molecules},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/molecules31214035},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/21/4035},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Engineering Ca-BTC MOF Nanorods with Electrochemical and Luminescent Functionalities
AU - Luis A. Garcés-Patiño
AU - Esmeralda L. Martínez-Piñeiro
AU - Edith Osorio-de-la-Rosa
AU - Nicolás Cayetano-Castro
AU - Ulises Caldiño
AU - Fernando Pérez-Villaseñor
AU - Mirna Valdez-Hernández
AU - Marisol Hernández-Gutiérrez
AU - Cristian A. Ospina-DeLaCruz
AU - Ángel Castro-Agüero
AU - Arturo Ortiz-Arroyo
AU - Abraham Pacio-Castillo
AU - Dulce Y. Medina-Velázquez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/09
JO - Molecules
DO - 10.3390/molecules31214035
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/21/4035
AB - Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as versatile materials for advanced applications due to their exceptional structural diversity, high surface areas, and tunable porosity. Among them, calcium-based MOFs (Ca-MOFs) are attracting significant interest owing to the natural abundance, low cost, and biocompatibility of calcium. In this work, a calcium benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (Ca-BTC) MOF was successfully synthesized and characterized as a multifunctional material. X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of the crystalline Ca3(BTC)2 phase, in agreement with the simulated pattern derived from the reported single-crystal structure. Electron microscopy revealed a nanorod morphology and ordered crystalline regions at the nanoscale, while Raman spectroscopy provided evidence of Ca–O coordination and the characteristic carboxylate bonding of the BTC linker. Under 365 nm excitation, the Ca-BTC MOF exhibited a bluish-white emission with significantly higher intensity than that obtained under 265 nm excitation, together with an average luminescence lifetime of 51.48 ms and a photoluminescence quantum yield of 7.7%. The higher emission intensity under near-UV excitation highlights its potential as a phosphor for pc-WLED applications. The electrochemical performance of Ca-BTC was evaluated in a solid-state supercapacitor (SC) assembled with graphene-based electrodes and a phosphoric acid electrolyte. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated a specific capacitance of 296.5 F g−1 at 25 mV s−1, together with excellent cycling stability, retaining 97.8% of its initial capacitance after 1000 charge–discharge cycles. These findings demonstrate that the Ca-BTC MOF combines a crystalline structure, long-lived bluish-white luminescence, and electrochemical charge-storage properties, making it a promising candidate for optoelectronic and energy-storage applications.
SN - 1420-3049
ER -