ZIF-8 has the SOD type of zeolite s

ZIF-8 has the SOD type of zeolite structure. It was first reported by Yaghi’s group using a solvothermal synthesis method in DMF.4 Several recent reports explored the synthesis of ZIF-8 in other solvents such as methanol,9,18 DMF–methanol,20 and H2O–methanol mixtures,21 etc. The synthesis time typically ranged from 1 h to 1 month. Some of these reports of attempts to make nanometre sized ZIF-8 crystals18 or control the crystal morphology.22 For example, Cravillon et al. reported that the ZIF-8 crystals synthesized in 1 h in methanol had sizes of B50 nm and the yield was around 50%.18 Very recently, Wu et al.5 found that ZIF-8 crystals were able to hold hydrogen molecules up to 4.2 wt% as selfassembled nanostructures with relatively short intermolecular distances compared to solid hydrogen. Furthermore, ZIF-8 made in membrane form showed promising gas-separation performance for H2–CH4,9,19 and CO2–CH4.23 Again, the membranes were all made in methanol solution. All of these results indicated the potential usage of ZIF-8 for large-scale industrial applications. The method developed in this report shall introduce a fast as well as economical method for the synthesis of ZIF-8.