Emerging applications of metal–organic frameworks

Abstract

Metal-organic Frameworks are a unique class of materials well known for their crystallinity and ultra-high porosity. Since their first report over fifteen years ago, research in this area has sought to actively exploit these properties, especially in gas adsorption. In this article we canvass some emerging topics in the field of MOF research that show promise for new applications in areas such as biotechnology, catalysis, and microelectronics. 26 and Cytochrome c 27 into Tb-based MOFs. These examples were limited to biomacromolecules with sizes smaller than the MOF cavities, although more recent work by Yaghi and coworkers 28has demonstrated the precise tuning of the pore size to adsorb and accommodate bigger biomacromolecules, such as myoglobin and green fluorescent protein.

Nickel(ii) metal–organic frameworks with N,N′-di(4-pyridyl)-naphthalenediimide ligands: influence of secondary building unit geometry on dimensionality and framework dimensions

“…One of the most attractive features of MOFs is the ability to prepare materials that exhibit permanent microporosity. [1][2][3] One approach that has been successfully employed to create such systems are mixed-ligand frameworks where tunable cavities are obtained using a pillaring approach. [12][13][14][15][16]34 Typically pillaring creates three-dimensional frameworks by using rigid linkers (pillars) to connect two-dimensional layers, but the same approach can be used to create twodimensional structures depending on the arrangement of the metal-based secondary building units …”

“…Evolving from the original concepts of the building-block approach, the field has reached a position where a large variety of framework materials are being applied to a myriad of applications. 1,2 Thus, in addition to studies that exploit the porosity of MOFs for gas storage 3 developments have been made in a number of other areas including biological applications, [4][5][6] conductivity, 7 crystalline sponges, 8 and as matrices for probing chemical reactions. 9 As a result of the modular, building-block approach it is possible to incorporate specific components into the framework that impart specific properties on the resulting material.…”

Surfactant-assisted ZnO processing as a versatile route to ZIF composites and hollow architectures with enhanced dye adsorption

“…Over the last decade metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) 1 constructed by coordination interactions between metal ions and organic linkers have fully established themselves as an exciting class of high-surface area microporous materials of tuneable functionality with wide-ranging applications in catalysis 2 , separation 3 , energy 4 and drug delivery 5 with further potential in a number of emerging areas such as biotechnology and microelectronics 6 . While these applications strongly depend on the composition and structure of the MOF, it is clear that their properties can be significantly enhanced through appropriate configuration of the physical form of the MOFs 7 or the preparation of MOF-based composite materials 8 .…”

Coordination polymers and metal–organic frameworks: materials by design

“…The field has impacted many areas of science including commercial applications from gas storage agents to new investigations as drug-delivery vehicles [1]. Coordination polymers and MOFs are prepared from the combination of metal cations, commonly d-or f-block metals, and ligands capable of bridging metal centres to create polymeric structures which extend in one, two or three dimensions.…”