Open research questions in Metal-Organic Frameworks: Synthesis and Applications

What the literature leaves open

• Despite the significant progress achieved in the application of MOF-based materials for the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants from water, several research gaps still need to be addressed before these materials can be translated into reliable and scalable water-treatment technologies.

  Metal–Organic Framework-Based Materials for Pharmaceuticals Removal from Contaminated Waters by Adsorption · 2026 · DOI

• The evidence also indicates that assessment needs to become more relevant.

  Fouling, Deactivation, and Self-Healing of Coordinatively Unsaturated Metal Sites in MOF-Derived Catalysts During Real Water Treatment · 2026 · DOI

• More research on MOFs is needed to create cutting-edge materials for energy conversion and storage and space applications. Various synthetic techniques, MOFs’ consistency architecture, their tunable chemical and physical properties, and their most recent advancements for energy-related applications are all methodically and thoroughly explained and addressed.

  Porosity Tunable Metal-Organic Framework (MOF)-Based Composites for Energy Storage Applications: Recent Progress · 2025 · DOI

• Evidence suggests a synergistic relationship between UiO-66-NH2 and AgNPs or Cis-Pt; however, further investigation is necessary to elucidate the precise mechanisms underlying these effects. However, the absence of a significant escalation in toxicity in comparison to UiO-66-NH2@AgNPs and UiO-66-NH2@Cis-Pt necessitates further investigation into the mechanisms of action of this nano-construct.

  Silver Nanoparticles Decorated UiO-66-NH2 Metal-Organic Framework for Combination Therapy in Cancer Treatment · 2025 · DOI

• Future research efforts should focus on the following interconnected strategic directions. 5.1.

  Advancements and Prospects of Metal-Organic Framework-Based Fluorescent Sensors · 2025 · DOI

• Critical analysis reveals several interconnected challenges that must be addressed to bridge the gap between laboratory promise and industrial implementation.

  Metal–Organic Frameworks as Synergistic Scaffolds in Biomass Fermentation: Evolution from Passive Adsorption to Active Catalysis · 2025 · DOI

• It highlights the need for heterogeneous catalysts that can be easily separated, recovered, and reutilized. The paper also identifies a gap in the understanding of the chemical properties of MOFs and their suitability for different catalytic transformations.

  Zirconium-Containing Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) as Catalysts for Biomass Conversion · 2025 · DOI

• Addressing wastewater treatment remains a pressing concern, given the detrimental effects of untreated wastewater on human health and its indirect contribution to global water scarcity. Over the years, numerous methodologies have been explored to tackle this challenge.

  Progressive Insights into Metal-Organic Frameworks and Metal-Organic Framework-Membrane Composite Systems for Wastewater Management · 2024 · DOI

• The paper discusses the need for more efficient sorbents and the development of novel sample preparation techniques.

  Deep-Eutectic-Solvent-Decorated Metal–Organic Framework for Food and Environmental Sample Preparation · 2024 · DOI

• Traditional sample preparation methods have limitations, such as poor chemical stability and limited tunability. Metal-organic frameworks have relatively poor chemical stability, which limits their applications. The integration of deep eutectic solvents into metal-organic frameworks addresses these limitations and offers a novel approach for sample preparation.

  Deep-Eutectic-Solvent-Decorated Metal–Organic Framework for Food and Environmental Sample Preparation · 2024 · DOI

• Traditional adsorbents have weak adsorption capacities and are time-consuming. There is a need for a novel adsorbent material with high adsorption capacity and efficiency. The adsorption mechanisms of organic dyes are not fully understood.

  An Oxalato-Bridged Cu(II)-Based 1D Polymer Chain: Synthesis, Structure, and Adsorption of Organic Dyes · 2024 · DOI

• The need for more sustainable synthesis routes for MOF structures. The lack of efficient heterogeneous catalysts for ring-opening aminolysis reactions of epoxides. The importance of reducing the use of hazardous substances and chemical waste in chemical reactions.

  Porous Coordination Polymer MOF-808 as an Effective Catalyst to Enhance Sustainable Chemical Processes · 2024 · DOI

• The preparation of IRMOF-3 requires high-temperature heating, resulting in larger particles and uneven size distribution. The functionalization of IRMOF-3 requires careful selection of reaction mechanisms and conditions. The application of IRMOF-3 in various fields requires further research and development.

  Isoreticular Metal-Organic Framework-3 (IRMOF-3): From Experimental Preparation, Functionalized Modification to Practical Applications · 2024 · DOI

• The rapid growth of artificial intelligence and digital technologies is generating unprecedented e-waste streams rich in secondary gold resources, yet sustainable recovery strategies remain scarce.

  A Biodegradable Metal–Organic Framework/Oligomer Composite for Sustainable Gold Recovery and Circular Water Management · 2026 · DOI

• However, how altering the metal nodes in BMOFs regulates the inherent structure–performance relationship remains unclear.

  Metal-Node Engineering Enables Tunable Photocatalytic Benzylamine Oxidation Coupled with H2 Production in MOFs · 2026 · DOI

• The manuscript lacks essential details regarding sample preparation and measurement procedures for DLS. The study requires direct experimental validation for the claim that an uneven stationary phase results in broader chromatographic peaks.

  Solvent Polarity Matching for the Fabrication of Evenly Distributed Metal-Organic Framework Stationary Phases · 2026 · DOI

• Prior work has not systematically addressed the effect of solvent choice on packing efficiency. There is a lack of understanding of the polarity matching mechanism.

  Solvent Polarity Matching for the Fabrication of Evenly Distributed Metal-Organic Framework Stationary Phases · 2026 · DOI

• The need for a reactive oxygen species generator that does not require external stimulation. The lack of understanding of the impact of central metal on electrochemical performance and the production of active radical species.

  Development and assessment of a reactive oxygen species generator independent of external stimuli utilizing metal–organic frameworks · 2026 · DOI

• Further investigations on MOF-mediated ROS modulation within the TME of pancreatic cancer and esophageal cancer are needed. The clinical translation of MOF-based therapies remains a challenge. The design of MOFs with targeting moieties for specific receptors on malignant cells requires further research.

  Metal-organic frameworks-mediated reactive oxygen species modulation in the tumor microenvironment of digestive system malignancies: latest advances · 2026 · DOI

• This ordering metric does not account for the angular width of the preferential orientations, which can be evaluated from the azimuthal full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the respective peak.

  Automated Spin‐Assisted Layer‐by‐Layer Epitaxy Produces Highly Oriented Mixed‐Linker MOF Thin Films · 2026 · DOI

• Although extensive research has been conducted, most pure MOF membrane fabrication methods are still far away from meeting the industrialization requirements, primarily due to heavy costs and arguable stability.

  Fabrication Methods of Continuous Pure Metal–Organic Framework Membranes and Films: A Review · 2024 · DOI

• Development of new systems that can generate ROS without external stimulation.

  Development and assessment of a reactive oxygen species generator independent of external stimuli utilizing metal–organic frameworks · 2026 · DOI

• For example, the surface properties and pore optimization of carbon-based materials, as well as the controllability and reproducibility of heteroatomdoped carbon-based adsorbents, deserve attention and further research.

  Research Progress in Microporous Materials for Selective Adsorption and Separation of Methane from Low-Grade Gas · 2024 · DOI

• Development of MOF-based composite materials, - Improving the efficiency and stability of MOFs, - Exploring new synthesis methods of MOFs and composite…

  Application of Metal–Organic Framework-Based Composite Materials for Photodegradation of Dye Pollutants in Wastewater · 2024 · DOI

• The design and application of more new nanomaterials based on IRMOF-3, - The development of more advanced functional materials in industrial production and engineering applications, - The expansion of the unique properties…

  Isoreticular Metal-Organic Framework-3 (IRMOF-3): From Experimental Preparation, Functionalized Modification to Practical Applications · 2024 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Metal-Organic Frameworks: Synthesis and Applications

• The Chemistry and Applications of Metal-Organic Frameworks · Science · 2013 · 16,253 citations
• Design and synthesis of an exceptionally stable and highly porous metal-organic framework · Nature · 1999 · 7,841 citations
• Systematic Design of Pore Size and Functionality in Isoreticular MOFs and Their Application in Methane Storage · Science · 2002 · 7,790 citations
• A Chemically Functionalizable Nanoporous Material [Cu 3 (TMA) 2 (H 2 O) 3 ] n · Science · 1999 · 5,806 citations
• A Chromium Terephthalate-Based Solid with Unusually Large Pore Volumes and Surface Area · Science · 2005 · 5,224 citations
• Hydrogen Storage in Microporous Metal-Organic Frameworks · Science · 2003 · 4,608 citations
• Ultrahigh Porosity in Metal-Organic Frameworks · Science · 2010 · 3,745 citations
• Selective binding and removal of guests in a microporous metal–organic framework · Nature · 1995 · 2,852 citations
• The Current Status of MOF and COF Applications · Angewandte Chemie International Edition · 2021 · 1,198 citations
• A scalable metal-organic framework as a durable physisorbent for carbon dioxide capture · Science · 2021 · 1,030 citations

Most recent work

• Simultaneous detection and removal of tetracycline antibiotics using multifunctional MOFs · TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry · 2026
• Nanodots of non-functionalized zinc-based metal–organic frameworks with dual-state emission: Sensitive point-of-care detection of ferric ions in food, environmental and biological samples · Materials Research Bulletin · 2026
• Heterodimensional “nebula-cluster” hybrids from MOFs and BP nanosheets: towards multifunctional, flame retardant, and closed-loop recyclable flexible foam · Journal of Materials Chemistry A · 2026
• Fe-doping accelerates the reconstruction kinetics of metal-organic frameworks toward active amorphous oxyhydroxide enabling industrial water splitting · Applied Catalysis B: Environmental · 2026
• Beyond coordination and covalent bonds: Stabilization strategies and emerging applications of metal hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks · Coordination Chemistry Reviews · 2026
• Engineering Fluorinated Nanochannels in a Robust Tb 4 –Cluster MOF for Synergistic Catalysis of CO 2 Fixation and C–C Bond Formation · Inorganic Chemistry · 2026
• Copper-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks for Sustainable Catalysis: Mechanistic Insights, Stability, and Emerging Research Directions · ACS Omega · 2026
• Machine‐Learning‐Driven Design of Dynamically Adaptive MOF Catalysts: Structural Evolution Mechanisms and Industrial Translation Pathways in Seawater Electrolysis · Advanced Energy Materials · 2026
• Ratiometric Detection of Propyl Gallate Based on Two Zn(II)–Tb(III) Coordination Polymers Modulated by Metal–Ligand Ratios · Inorganic Chemistry · 2026
• Exploration of complex-based probe for pesticide residue detection: Specific recognition achieved via the synergistic effect of coordination water and supramolecular chains · Food Chemistry · 2026

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