From construction strategies to applications: Multifunctional defective metal-organic frameworks

Abstract

The creation of defects in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), known as defect engineering, offers an additional way for MOFs to personalize their specific functions and applications. Defect engineering not only provides new opportunities for MOFs in the fields of adsorption and catalysis, but also opens up a new avenue in terms of physical properties such as mechanical response and conductance. In this review, we focus on two classes of synthetic strategies (de novo synthesis and post-synthetic modification) for defective MOFs and their applications in the fundamental field, the effects of defect engineering on MOFs performance are as well discussed in detail. In the end, we highlight the challenges and future developments that can be expected about defective MOFs. Overall, this review can be applied as a potent tool for revealing the structure–activity relationships and accelerating the on-demand design of defective MOFs. We also hope this review will provide powerful assistance to researchers in utilizing defect engineering for switching new avenues for MOFs, enabling the better design and synthesis of new materials with specific functionalities.