Industrial aspects of water-based metal–organic frameworks

Abstract

The intrinsic potential leading to different functional properties and applications is due to the scope of controlled morphology and modifiable modular structure of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). The prerequisite for the employment of these MOFs in industrial applications is their synthetic procedures by considering method optimization and structural characterization including morphological characterization and stability. During the past few decades, a paradigm shift is seen in the construction of these MOFs encompassing research to material, energy, environmental research, and green chemical engineering from a standard laboratory scale. In the current scenario of globalization and the consequences erupting from it, the adoption of a greener preparation pathway for the synthesis of MOFs is the need of the hour. For the same, the employment of water both as a reaction media and additive as either of them is progressively moving toward greener and sustainable pathways considering the related safety and environmental impacts. These water-based MOFs could provide a better and more efficient pathway leading to the related industrial implementation and commercial applications like efficient fuel storage, pollutant removal, water harvesting, and other adsorption-based technologies which will significantly contribute to clean energy exploitation and environmental protection leading to a future based on green production. The versatility of water as compared with other organic solvents in terms of its non-toxic nature, easy stability and disposability, handling, environment friendliness, and easy scale-up techniques leads to a crucial need for upcoming investigations of water-based MOFs by optimizing its structures or properties to develop its potential applications in energy conversions, catalysis, drug delivery, chemical sensors, supercapacitors, etc. From a future perspective the development of green synthetic routes by minimal usage of organic solvents that pose safety and environmental risk wherever technically and economically practicable is a progressive task of utmost importance.