Nanoparticle/MOF composites: preparations and applications

Abstract

Over the last twenty years, MOFs have emerged as a new promising porous material in the areas of gas sorption and separation, catalysis, drug delivery, and molecule sensing. Moreover, nanomaterials have also attracted widespread attention in recent years. Owing to the porous structure of MOFs, we can combine nanoparticles with MOFs to obtain nanoparticle/MOF composites, which possess the advantages of both parent materials. In the present study, we utilized two main methods to introduce nanoparticles into MOFs: a method employing MOFs as templates to hold guest nanoparticles in their channels and a method employing the encapsulation of pre-synthesized nanoparticles. The former includes chemical vapor deposition, solid grinding, liquid impregnation, and double solvent methods, and the latter comprises some new techniques such as the self-sacrificing template technique. Herein, we also reviewed their applications in hydrogen storage, ammonia adsorption, acidic gas adsorption, catalytic processes, and energy storage.