Multifunctional Coordination Polymers: Synthesis, Structure, Properties and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Crystals is dedicated to multifunctional coordination polymers (CPs), aiming to disclose the most recent developments related to the design, synthesis, structure and properties of these high-value and multifunctional hybrid materials. As an attractive class of coordination polymers, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) will also be considered, with emphasis on their emerging applications in modern areas of science and technology.

The unprecedented physical–chemical properties of coordination polymers and MOFs have been fully evidenced by their specific micro- and nanocrystalline structure, large surface area, permanent porosity, excellent electrical, optical and magnetic abilities, and an increased robustness and stability, enabling them to be an extremely interesting class of materials for diverse practical utilizations. By tuning their physical–chemical properties through a proper choice of metal nodes and functional organic ligands, this type of hybrid material has been successfully developed, already readily applied in many demanding areas following current trends of science and technology, such as gas adsorption and separation, energy storage, water purification, luminescent appliances, enhanced electrical conductance, optical and magnetic devices, chemical, biological and thermal sensing, biomedical imaging and drug delivery. The postsynthesis modification and treatment of coordination polymers with different transition metal salts (inducing beneficial catalytic properties), enables them to be deeply integrated as heterogeneous catalysts with enhanced reactivity and selectivity in diverse chemical processes such as carbon–carbon bond-formation, CO₂ capture and conversion, water splitting, hydrogen evolution and various reduction and oxidation processes.

With the aim of unveiling the most recent scientific achievements in this rapidly growing domain of chemistry, we particularly welcome short communications, full papers and comprehensive reviews related to the synthesis, spectral characterization, X-ray crystallography, crystal structure, physical–chemical properties and applications of coordination polymers and MOFs for this Special Issue of Crystals. Selected contributions regarding the present developments and future perspectives in modern areas, e.g., gas adsorption and separation, energy storage, water purification, hydrogen evolution, heterogeneous catalysis, luminescence, magnetism, electrical conductance, optical devices, chemical, biological and thermal sensing, environmental remediation, biomedical imaging and applications, and drug delivery systems, would be highly appreciated.

Prof. Dr. Ileana Dragutan
Prof. Dr. Fu Ding
Prof. Dr. Ya-Guang Sun
Prof. Dr. Valerian Dragutan
Guest Editors

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