Composites of metal-organic frameworks: Preparation and application in adsorption

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are one of the most discussed materials of the last decade. Their extraordinary porosity and functionality from metals and organic linkers make them one of the most promising materials for a vast array of applications. The easy tunability of their pore size and shape from the micro-to meso-scale, by changing the connectivity of the inorganic moiety and the nature of the organic linkers, makes these materials special. Moreover, by combining with other suitable materials, the properties of MOFs can be improved further for enhanced functionality/stability, ease of preparation and selectivity of operation. In this review, various methods and paths for the preparation of composites are discussed, especially for those which have been successfully applied to gas and liquid phase adsorptions. In the second part of this paper, several applications in adsorptive processes are discussed.