Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their coatings

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous solids made up from inorganic and organic building blocks. The inorganic part usually consists of metal ions or metal oxide clusters having a Lewis acid character (i.e. able to accept lone pairs of electrons). Organic compounds function as ligands and often Lewis bases (and can donate lone pairs of electrons). Hundreds of MOFs have been synthesised and some are capable of multiple electron transfers with no significant change in molecular structure. Applications include adsorbents, catalysts, sensors, biomaterials and electrochemical energy conversion. There are several electrochemical routes to MOF synthesis and the outer surface of MOFs can be chemically or electrochemically functionalised to enhance their performance and diversify their use as coatings.