Engineering metal–organic frameworks for advanced ceramic composites

The pursuit of enhanced engineering properties and multifunctionality in ceramic materials has long been a critical research focus, driven by the need to expand their applications across diverse industries. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), distinguished by their exceptional structural versatility, including ultrahigh specific surface areas, tunable porosity, and customizable compositions, have recently been enormously explored for improving the mechanical properties and multifunctionality of ceramic materials. This review highlights the advantages and recent advancements in leveraging MOFs architectures to engineer advanced ceramic materials. Specifically, the roles of MOFs as sacrificial templates/precursors for reinforcement phases and high-energy nanoceramic powders as well as functional components to realize multifaceted functionalities were examined. Furthermore, the review showcases cutting-edge applications of MOFs-integrated ceramic composites in emerging domains, such as electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption, seawater desalination and filtration, and gas adsorption and separation. Finally, the challenges associated with integrating MOFs into ceramics are discussed, along with future research directions. This review aims to bridge the gap between MOFs innovation and ceramic engineering, offering a roadmap for the design and construction of structurally and functionally integrated advanced ceramic composites.