Recent advances in Metal-Organic Framework derived nanocomposites in gas and chemical sensors: a review

Abstract

Purpose: This systematic review aims to elucidate recent developments in MOF-derived nanocomposites for gas and chemical sensors. The goal is to explore the potential of MOF-based devices, specifically miniaturized gas sensors , in addressing critical requirements such as sensitivity, selectivity, stability, low power consumption, cost-effectiveness, and extended lifetime. It focuses applications ranging from air quality monitoring and industrial gas leaks to medical diagnostics. Materials and Methods: The review critically evaluates the last decade's progress in creating MOF-based sensors across diverse analytes. The specific attributes of MOFs, including their enormous specific surface area, tunable pore size/geometry, host-guest interactions, and structural diversity, which make them promising candidates for gas sensing applications. The limitations of MOFs, such as mechanical strength, stability issues, and single-function constraints, and proposes the combination of MOFs with functional materials as a viable strategy to overcome these drawbacks are discussed. Results: Various types of MOF-based nanocomposites employed in sensing capacities are scrutinized, showcasing their ability to enhance the recognition of diverse species, including hazardous phenolic compounds, heavy metal ions, and aromatic hydrocarbons. The integration of these MOFs into different sensor platforms, such as field-effect transistors, resistive sensors, and optical sensors are discussed in detail. Conclusions: The potential applications and performance attributes of these MOF-nanocomposites are thoroughly examined, offering guidance for researchers and engineers of sensor technologies. The review identifies key areas for future research, addressing challenges such as mechanical strength,