Highly Stable 3D-Printed Acrylate-Functionalized Metal–Organic Framework Scaffold for Enhanced Water Adsorption Cycle Performance

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are advanced porous materials widely utilized in adsorption applications owing to their exceptionally high surface area. In this study, we report the fabrication of 3D-printed MOF-based scaffolds with enhanced water adsorption cycle stability by incorporating trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA). Furthermore, ligand exchanged MOF-801 with 2-carboxyethyl acrylate (CEA) resulted in a 15% increase in compressive strength of the 3D-printed scaffolds. This improvement is attributed to enhanced photopolymerization conversion and the formation of a robust cross-linked network between CEA and TMPTA. The CEA-functionalized MOF-801 scaffolds exhibited excellent cycling performance, maintaining consistent water adsorption over 10 consecutive cycles. These results highlight the potential of CEA-functionalized MOF architectures for use in adsorption, separation, and catalysis. By simultaneously enhancing mechanical robustness and structural stability, this approach offers a promising strategy for developing durable, high-performance MOF-based scaffolds for a wide range of practical applications.