Rational Design and Development of Metal-Organic Frameworks

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) represent a revolutionary class of hybrid materials with immense potential to address energy and environmental challenges, such as gas sorption and separation, as well as the detection and degradation of toxic chemicals. Recently, several commercial technologies utilizing MOFs have been developed for applications in the food safety industry, as well as for the storage and transportation of toxic gases like Arsine (AsH₃) and Boron trifluoride (BF₃). Despite these significant advancements, one of the most important and unresolved challenges in the synthesis of MOFs is controlling their network topology, which refers to the geometric arrangement of building blocks within the 3D architecture of the framework. Effective topology control is crucial for predicting the final structure and its properties, which depend on that structure. By carefully selecting the size, geometry, and connectivity of the building blocks, we can create a variety of network topologies that contribute to the design of MOFs with both high stability and permanent porosity. In this minireview, our recent studies on how controlling the topology affects the structural variations and enhances the catalytic, sensing, and sorption capabilities of MOFs are discussed.