Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) represent a unique platform for fabrication of nanoparticles (NPs) of diverse composition and crystallinity. The growth of NPs from constituent parts of MOFs is usually initiated by external stimuli such as temperature, light and electron irradiation. Herein, the kinetics and NP growth mechanisms remain unexplored. Here, we utilized electron irradiation to initiate the nucleation and growth of crystalline Cu NPs of tunable size from several nanometers to hundreds of nanometers inside MOF as a precursor. Simultaneously, the process of the NPs growth, captured in real time using transmission electron microscope, demonstrates the evolution of their size, shape and spatial distribution. We also analyze the NP growth by the classical kinetic theory taking into account a phase transformation. Our results contribute to crystal engineering and developing of functional MOF-based nanocomposites.

金属有机框架（MOF）代表了一个独特的平台，用于制造具有不同组成和结晶度的纳米颗粒（NP）。NPs从MOF的组成部分的生长通常是由外部刺激（例如温度，光和电子辐射）引起的。在这里，动力学和NP的增长机制仍待探索。在这里，我们利用电子辐射在MOF内部作为前体启动了可调谐尺寸从几纳米到几百纳米的晶体Cu NP的成核和生长。同时，使用透射电子显微镜实时捕获的NPs生长过程证明了其尺寸，形状和空间分布的演变。我们还通过考虑相变的经典动力学理论来分析NP的增长。