Electron beam induced nanoparticle growth in metal-organic frameworks

We report on bottom-up approach of growing copper nanoparticles by exposing precursor metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) to an electron beam. Using a transmission electron microscope to stimulate and observe the growth, we demonstrate the real time growth of nanometer scale particles inside a model MOF - Cu-BTC. The approach represents the step toward the fabrication of functional nanocomposites.