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.