Insights into multivariate zeolitic imidazolate frameworks

Abstract

With the explosive growth of research focused on building units and types of crystalline materials, disruptive changes in the physical and/or chemical properties of crystals have been discovered. As the most studied subclass of metal-organic frameworks, zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) have shown huge potential in a wide range of applications, such as gas separation, adsorption catalysis, and so on. Specifically, when formed with multivariate (MTV) linkers or multi-metallic ions, named MTV-ZIFs, they exhibit significant differences in their thermodynamics, kinetics and properties in applications. Unraveling MTV-ZIFs, ranging from their unique structures and sequences to performance and reaction mechanisms, is crucial to further advance and expand the ZIFs. In this review, we discuss the construction methodology and properties of MTV-ZIFs, classified by MTV organic linkers and nodes, and identify challenges and opportunities, particularly linked to the chemical synthesis corresponding to their new physical chemistry. Ultimately, we outline the future direction in designing and synthesizing MTV-ZIFs to further our understanding of these promising materials.