Unlocking the Potential of Metal–Organic Frameworks: A Review on Synthesis, Characterization, and Multifaceted Applications

Abstract

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have seen rapid expansion in the scientific community during the last two decades. This type of crystalline material has a great degree of structural and functional tunability not found in other porous materials such as activated carbons, and zeolites. Numerous MOFs have demonstrated themselves to be viable options in a variety of sectors due to their larger surface area, enormous pore size, crystalline structure, and tunability. MOFs are ideal candidate materials to resolve many everlasting societal issues about energy and environmental sustainability and beyond due to their structural modularity (e.g., use of different metals, post-synthetic modifications, reticular chemistry, etc.) and exceptionally controlled porosity. MOFs are indispensable across numerous applications, particularly in the removal of contaminants and emerging micropollutants from wastewater. MOFs enable a wide range of multifaceted applications by catalyzing various reactions for increasing adsorption capacity, sensing, drug delivery, and water disinfection, and thus making major contributions in several fields. This review focuses on the basics of MOFs, their classification and structural features, types, various synthetic methods, characterization, factors affecting and the applications of MOF and its nanocomposites towards a wide range of applications including, drug delivery, catalysis, adsorption, biosensing and killing/inactivation of a wide range of microorganisms including fungi, bacteria, and viruses. In conclusion, knowing MOF synthesis including green synthesis, characterization, influencing parameters, and applications is essential to capitalizing on their special qualities and expanding its application across a range of industries, ultimately resulting in creative responses to urgent global issues.