Enhancing the hydrostability and processability of metal-organic polyhedra by self-polymerization or copolymerization with styrene

Metal-organic polyhedra (MOPs) have attracted considerable research interest due to their unique cavity structure and fascinating physicochemical properties. However, their poor hydrostability and low processability hinder their applications seriously. Here we report a polymerization strategy (self-polymerization or copolymerization with styrene) to crosslink discrete MOP molecules, through which hydrophilic MOPs become hydrophobic, thus enhancing their hydrostability obviously. The obtained polymers exhibit much better selective CO₂ adsorption performance than bulk MOPs. Moreover, the processability of these materials is greatly improved and solid-state materials with different shapes (e.g. cylindrical, tapered, and cubic) can be produced through utilizing their easy-curing and molding properties.