Magnetic phosphate-based transition Metal-Containing porous Materials: Recent Advances, synthetic Approaches, and applications

A new class of open-framework materials, including aluminophosphates, silicoaluminophosphates, and metal-modified variants, emerged in the 1980 s. Since then, phosphate-based molecular sieves and zeolite-type structures have attracted significant interest due to their tunable pore structures, enhanced thermal stability, and catalytic efficiency. Additionally, those porous phosphate-based structures incorporating transition metals such as iron, cobalt, and nickel exhibit distinct magnetic properties. This facilitates, among other benefits, efficient catalyst recovery and recyclability through the use of external magnetic fields, addressing challenges associated with conventional solid catalysts and offering more environmentally sustainable catalytic processes. Despite their potential, magnetic phosphate-based zeolite-like structures and molecular sieves remain relatively underexplored compared to extensively studied frameworks like aluminosilicates and porous silica. This review traces the early discoveries of phosphate-based molecular sieves and combines them with recent advancements in their synthesis and applications, including sustainable catalysis, adsorption, separation processes, and environmental remediation, with a particular focus on transition-metal-incorporated materials exhibiting magnetic properties. By integrating pioneering research with current developments, this review also aims to provide a deeper understanding of recent groundbreaking advancements, and of the challenges and future perspectives in the field.