Metal–organic frameworks (an overview)

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are the newest class of functional substances and have obtained significant importance from the materials science, chemistry, and physics sections. MOF chemistry and its types are discussed with the help of metal nodes and organic linkers present within the crystal. Confirmation of MOFs and their stabilization are carried out by different latest techniques. Properties of MOFs are discussed one by one, which make them superior as compared to other pour materials. MOFs have exhibited their significant ability for the formation of single-atom crystals (SACs) in the past few decades. In this chapter a brief comparison of MOFs with SACs is made, and important roles of SACs, applications of MOFs in SACs, and a few problems concerning energy applications of SACs are discussed. The metal content in MOF-based SACs is determined with the help of the latest techniques, and further development of MOF-based SACs is discussed. After that a summary of published approaches; their potential applications, advantages, and disadvantages; and the structural features of MOFs are provided.