Binding Materials for MOF Monolith Shaping Processes: A Review towards Real Life Application

Vasileios Ntouros,Margarita Niki Assimakopoulos,Ioannis Kousis,Anna Laura Pisello

doi:10.3390/en15041489

Vasileios Ntouros, Margarita Niki Assimakopoulos + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/en15041489

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Abstract

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) could be utilized for a wide range of applications such as sorption, catalysis, chromatography, energy storage, sensors, drug delivery, and nonlinear optics. However, to date, there are very few examples of MOFs exploited on a commercial scale. Nevertheless, progress in MOF-related research is currently paving the way to new industrial opportunities, fostering applications and processes interconnecting fundamental chemistry with engineering and relevant sectors. Yet, the fabrication of porous MOF materials within resistant structures is a key challenge impeding their wide commercial use for processes such as adsorptive separation. In fact, the integration of nano-scale MOF crystallic structures into bulk components that can maintain the desired characteristics, i.e., size, shape, and mechanical stability, is a prerequisite for their wide practical use in many applications. At the same time, it requires sophisticated shaping techniques that can structure nano/micro-crystalline fine powders of MOFs into diverse types of macroscopic bodies such as monoliths. Under this framework, this review aims to bridge the gap between research advances and industrial necessities for fostering MOF applications into real life. Therefore, it critically explores recent advances in the shaping and production of MOF macro structures with regard to the binding materials that have received little attention to date, but have the potential to give new perspectives in the industrial applicability of MOFs. Moreover, it proposes future paths that can be adopted from both academy and industry and can further boost MOF exploitation.

Highlights

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are organic–inorganic hybrid crystalline microporous materials [1]
There are occasions in which monoliths are produced by applying high pressure to the powder in the absence of any binding agent; this applies to MOFs that can withstand high compression forces without losing their porosity and crystal structure
In other work [75], polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) (2%) was utilized as a binding agent in a MIL-100(Fe)/RD silica gel composite monolith produced under compression with regard to an ultra-low heat-driven atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) system; the performance of the system was significantly increased compared to the silica gel-based

Summary

Introduction

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are organic–inorganic hybrid crystalline microporous materials [1]. They consist of positively charged metal ions interconnected with organic ligands [2]. MOFs are typically characterized by high porosity, low density, and excellent biocompatibility [4]. These properties render them excellent candidates for applications related to sorption, catalysis, chromatography, energy storage, sensors, drug delivery, and nonlinear optics [5,6,7]. In order to develop MOF materials of high efficiency into real life applications, high-tech and sophisticated engineering is necessary for tuning their chemical structure and, their properties at the macroscopic scale [9]. At an industrial scale, properties such as the size and the shape of the corresponding MOF have profound effects on both the

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