MOF-on-MOF hybrids: Synthesis and applications

• Published in: Coordination chemistry reviews 2021-04, Vol.432, p.213743, Article 213743
• Main Authors: Liu, Chao, Wang, Jing, Wan, Jingjing, Yu, Chengzhong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Application; Metal organic framework; MOF-on-MOF; Structural regulation; Synthetic strategy
• ISSN: 0010-8545; 1873-3840
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2020.213743

•MOF-on-MOF hybrids exhibit distinctive properties compared to single MOF.•This is the first review dedicated to the advances of MOF-on-MOF hybrids.•The synthetic strategies and structures of MOF-on-MOF hybrids are presented.•The potentials of MOF-on-MOF hybrids in selected applications are demonstrated.•Challenges and future directions of MOF-on-MOF hybrids are discussed. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a promising class of porous crystalline materials with diverse applications, the properties of which are dependent on their structures including both compositions and architectures. The intensive research of MOFs has led to an emerging family of MOF-on-MOF hybrid materials constructed by the conjugation of two or more MOFs units. The advances in the field of MOFs have been summarized in numerous excellent reviews on single MOFs, MOFs-based composites via conjugation with non-MOF materials and their derivates. However, there is a lack of dedicated review on MOF-on-MOF hybrids. Within this context, herein we provide a timely and comprehensive summary on the achievements of MOF-on-MOF hybrids. An introduction of the synthetic strategy/formation mechanism is firstly presented to explain the interaction between host and guest MOFs. Then, the structural diversity in MOF-on-MOF systems is discussed in detail to demonstrate how MOF-on-MOF hybrid systems enable advances in various applications. Finally, challenges and future directions of MOF-on-MOF development are described as our own perspectives.