Much ado about MOFs: metal-organic-frameworks as quantum materials

Abstract

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a highly tunable class of crystalline materials where metal atoms or clusters are connected by organic linkers. They offer a versatile platform for exploring quantum phenomena such as novel magnetism, superconductivity, and topology. Particularly for magnetism, their modular chemistry enables extensive control over interactions, spin magnitudes, lattice geometries, and even light-responsiveness, making them uniquely adaptable platforms. However, despite their promise, their low-temperature behavior and magnetic properties remain largely unexplored and represent an underappreciated opportunity in quantum materials research. With potential applications ranging from quantum computation to energy transfer, we believe that MOFs and particularly magnetic MOFs offer a vast and largely untapped frontier for transformative discoveries and high-impact quantum materials research.