3D-Printing of porous materials: Application to Metal-Organic Frameworks

MOFs (Metal-Organic Frameworks) are crystalline porous organic/inorganic hybrid materials with well-defined structures that have proven to possess a great potential in many applications, mostly because during the synthesis of these materials the structure can be controlled to add the desired functionality in either the metal cluster or the linker. Unfortunately, few methods are reported to shape these materials as manipulable and, most importantly, to retain their original properties. Recently, 3D printing of MOF has been proposed and shows promising properties to obtain an object, which can be designed upon request. We propose here to summarize the main development of 3D printing of MOF to determine some prospects and opportunities in this area.