MOFs and MCOFs: Design, Synthesis and Application

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to announce and invite you to contribute to this Special Issue of Inorganics, titled "MOFs and MCOFs: Design, Synthesis and Application".

Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and Metal–Covalent Organic Frameworks (MCOFs), represent two of the most exciting classes of porous crystalline materials developed in recent years. Their exceptional characteristics—including ultrahigh surface areas, structural and functional tunability, and well-defined porosity—have positioned them as prime candidates for a myriad of advanced applications. The ability to precisely engineer their building blocks at the molecular level allows the tailoring of their properties to meet specific functional demands, pushing the boundaries of materials science and technology.

Significant strides have been made in the design and synthesis of MOFs and MCOFs, ranging from novel synthetic strategies and post-synthetic modification techniques to the development of scalable production methods. These advancements are crucial for translating laboratory discoveries into practical technologies. To unlock the full potential of these frameworks, a synergistic combination of experimental and theoretical approaches should be employed, which can lead to uncovering deeper insights into their formation mechanisms, structure–property relationships, and performance optimization.

This Special Issue aims to compile a collection of original research articles and comprehensive reviews that reflect the latest progress in the field. We welcome contributions that span the entire spectrum of MOF and MCOF research, with a focus on their design, synthesis, and functional applications. Potential topics include, but are not limited to the following:

Design and Synthesis: Novel ligand design, synthetic methodologies, green synthesis, post-synthetic modification, and theoretical modeling of structures and properties.

Biological Applications:

• Antimicrobial material
• Antiviral material
• Nanomedicine: Drug delivery systems for anti-tumor and antibacterial therapy.
• Biomaterials, Nanozymes, and applications in Nanomedicine and Bionanotechnology.

Sensing: Chemical sensors, biosensors, and optical sensors for the detection of various analytes.

Gas Adsorption and Separation: Capture of CO₂, storage of H₂ or CH₄, and separation of gas mixtures (e.g., O₂/N₂, C₂H₄/C₂H₆).

Catalysis: Heterogeneous organic catalysis, photocatalysis (for water splitting, CO₂ reduction, pollutant degradation), and electrocatalysis (for ORR, OER, HER).

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions and sharing a impactful collection of research that will advance the frontiers of MOF and MCOF science.

Prof. Dr. Xujia Hong
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Inorganics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.