MOF/Chitosan Composites: An Emerging Class of Multifunctional Materials for Diverse Applications

This article provides a comprehensive review of recent advancements and applications of metal–organic framework (MOF)/chitosan (CS) composites, a novel class of materials that synergize the benefits of both MOFs and CS-MOFs, known for their porous coordination polymer structures, exhibit tunable properties, while CS, a natural polysaccharide, offers abundant functional groups and biocompatibility. For the first time, this review classifies research articles based on the metal cores of the MOFs, including Cu, Co, Fe, Zr, Zn, Ce, Al, Ti, Ag, and various bimetallic combinations. The article meticulously summarizes the synthesis methods and conditions for MOFs and MOF/Polymer composites, detailing the types and ratios of metal salts and organic linkers, as well as the composites of CS with different metal cores of the MOFs. Furthermore, the review discusses the nature and strength of interactions between MOFs and CS, along with their stability. It also explores the diverse applications of MOF/CS composites in areas such as gas storage and separation, catalysis, sensing, drug delivery, and energy conversion and storage. The article highlights the challenges and opportunities associated with MOF/CS composites, emphasizing the need to enhance their stability, scalability, and functionality. It concludes that MOF/CS composites hold significant promise for addressing contemporary challenges in energy, environmental, and biomedical fields.

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