Smart metal-organic framework (MOF) composites and their applications in environmental remediation

Abstract

The applications of stimuli-responsive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) during environmental remediation are discussed in detail in this paper. MOFs are highly porous materials with generally high adsorption capacity of environmental pollutants. The incorporation of stimuli-responsive moieties in their structures confer them with additional properties such as being easily recovered and recyclability. Consequently, there is an increase in the use of stimuli-responsive MOFs during environmental remediation. Some researchers have successfully incorporated photoactive species into the structures of MOFs resulting in the formation of light-responsive composites. The presence of thermo-responsive polymeric units in the structure of an MOF make it to have physicochemical properties that are sensitive to temperature changes. The recovery of MOFs composites can be facilitated by the incorporation of magnetic nanoparticles into their structures. This review explores the utilisation of thermo-responsive MOFs, light-responsive MOFs and magnetic responsive MOFs during environmental remediation. In addition, challenges associated with the use of smart MOFs during the remediation of polluted environments are discussed in detail in this review as well as their future prospects. • Smart MOFs are efficient adsorbents for environmental remediation • Their physicochemical properties are responsive to stimuli • Light, temperature, and magnetic stimulations are usually involved in smart MOFs • Adsorption/desorption processes in smart MOFs are triggered by changes in stimuli • Smart MOF=based membranes have stimuli-regulated pore sizes