Hierarchical Metal-Organic Network-Forming Glasses toward Applications

Abstract

Glassy states of network-forming coordination polymers (CPs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) represent a novel category of amorphous materials. Recent years have seen substantial progress in expanding the compound library and advancing the structural design of CP/MOF glasses. This review examines the current status and future potential of multi-scale hierarchical CP/MOF glass materials, covering synthesis, shape adaptability, and synergistic materials. Extensive experimental and theoretical investigations of structure-property relationships have shed light on their diverse utility, spanning areas such as permanent porosity and gas permeability, ionic and electronic conductivity, optics, catalysis, and battery technology. Additionally, the inherent properties of these glasses, coupled with their phase transformation capability, enable a range of morphological architectures. Current challenges are also addressed and offer insights into future research, with the goal of bringing CP/MOF glasses to the industry.