Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and their application as photocatalysts: Part I. Structure, synthesis and post-synthetic modifications

In recent years, metal-organic-frameworks (MOFs) have been considered as a category of new advanced nanomaterials receiving remarkable attention and attaining great importance due to their superior properties such as ultrahigh porosity, remarkable surface-specific area for specific applications like adsorption and gas separation, hydrogen and CO2 absorption, catalysis, photocatalysis, and biocompatibility. The structure of MOFs plays a key role in their special properties and the employment of an appropriate synthesis technique to achieve the desired properties. Furthermore, the post-synthesis modification (PSM) process is essential for pore modification, forming a functionalized network, and finally improving the pre-formed synthesized structure to achieve desired properties. Finally, the purification, activation, and characterization of MOF are also regarded as essential steps after the synthesis process.