Research Progress on Synthesis and Applications of Metal-Organic Frameworks

Abstract

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a family of crystalline porous materials featuring large specific surface areas, tunable pore geometries, and structurally designable architectures, which endow them with tremendous application potential in adsorption, separation, and catalysis. This article systematically reviews the structural properties, state-of-the-art synthetic strategies, and pore activation techniques of MOFs. Representative synthetic routes, including hydrothermal/solvothermal, electrochemical, external-field-assisted, and mechanical synthesis methods, are comprehensively compared in terms of their technical characteristics. The underlying mechanisms by which diverse activation procedures regulate pore purification, framework structural stability, and functional performance improvement of MOFs are clearly elucidated. In addition, this work summarizes the research advances of MOFs in diverse application scenarios, covering gas separation, water treatment, organic catalysis, and photocatalysis, with a particular focus on establishing their structure–performance relationships. Finally, the industrial application bottlenecks and future green development directions are discussed, aiming to guide the design and optimization of high-performance MOF materials.