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Molecules
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30th Anniversary of the MOF Concept
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30th Anniversary of the MOF Concept

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Organometallic Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 2023

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jun Liang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, China
Interests: functional porous materials; heterogeneous catalytic CO2 reduction and hydrogen production; metal resource utilization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Christoph Janiak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institut für Anorganische Chemie und Strukturchemie, Heinrich Heine Universitat, Dusseldorf, Germany
Interests: coordination chemistry; porous materials; metal organic frameworks
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as a transformative class of materials over the past three decades, significantly impacting various scientific and technological domains. As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the MOF concept, it is an opportune moment to reflect on the remarkable journey of MOFs and to highlight their diverse potential applications and future development.

Historical Context and Evolution

The inception of MOFs in the early 1990s marked the beginning of a new era in materials science. Initially, MOFs were recognized for their high porosity and surface area, making them ideal candidates for gas storage and separation. Over the years, the field has expanded exponentially, driven by innovative synthetic strategies and a deeper understanding of their structural and functional properties.

Examples of Milestones and Achievements

  1. Gas Storage and Separation: MOFs have demonstrated unparalleled capabilities in capturing and storing gases such as hydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide. Their tunable porosity and surface chemistry could lead to significant advancements in clean energy technologies.
  2. Catalysis: The unique architecture of MOFs has enabled the development of highly active and selective catalysts for a wide range of chemical reactions. These catalysts may find applications in hydrocarbon conversion, environmental remediation, and other industrial processes.
  3. Drug Delivery: The porous nature of MOFs allows for the encapsulation and controlled release of therapeutic agents. This might lead to the development of advanced drug delivery systems that enhance the efficacy and reduce the side effects of medications.
  4. Sensing and Detection: MOFs have been utilized in the development of highly sensitive and selective sensors for detecting various analytes, including environmental pollutants and biological molecules. Their versatility could make them valuable tools in diagnostics and environmental monitoring.

Call for Contributions

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the MOF concept, we are pleased to announce a Special Issue dedicated to the latest advancements and future directions in MOF research. We invite researchers from all related fields to contribute original research articles and reviews that cover various aspects of MOFs, from fundamental studies to practical applications. This Special Issue aims to bring together the diverse research efforts in the field, foster collaboration, and provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and innovations.

Join us in celebrating this milestone and shaping the future of MOF research. We look forward to your contributions and participation in this exciting endeavor.

Dr. Jun Liang
Prof. Dr. Christoph Janiak
Guest Editors

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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.

Keywords

  • metal–organic frameworks
  • gas storage and separation
  • catalysis
  • drug delivery
  • sensing and detection
  • energy applications

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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14 pages, 2498 KB  
Article
Post–Synthetic Modification of MOF–808 for Mixed Matrix Membranes with High and Stable Ion Separation Capacity
by Bahar Karadeniz, Han-Liang Fang, Yi-Ying He, Qi-Lin Ye, Jun-Yu Chen and Jian Lü
Molecules 2025, 30(23), 4554; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30234554 - 26 Nov 2025
Viewed by 297
Abstract
The global clean water crisis is a pressing sustainable development challenge that demands urgent solutions. Membrane separation technology has emerged as a leading approach for seawater desalination, offering great potential to address freshwater scarcity. However, achieving both high water flux and high salt [...] Read more.
The global clean water crisis is a pressing sustainable development challenge that demands urgent solutions. Membrane separation technology has emerged as a leading approach for seawater desalination, offering great potential to address freshwater scarcity. However, achieving both high water flux and high salt rejection in desalination membranes remains a major challenge. Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), which combine polymer substrates with functional fillers, have shown promise, but their performance is often limited by poor compatibility between the embedded materials and the polymer matrix. In this work, a post-synthetic modification of the metal–organic framework MOF–808 was carried out to improve the interfacial compatibility between the modified MOF–808–SP and polyethersulfone substrate. Remarkably, increasing the loading of MOF–808–SP sustained the membrane selectivity while simultaneously enhancing water flux. This performance contrasts with membranes containing unmodified MOF–808, highlighting the crucial role of improved MOF–polymer compatibility in achieving synergistic separation performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 30th Anniversary of the MOF Concept)
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17 pages, 6035 KB  
Article
Robust Anionic Framework Based on Sodium–Cerium Terephthalate
by Nikita Nikandrov, Sofya Spasskaya, Marina Tedeeva, Alexander Kustov and Dmitry Tsymbarenko
Molecules 2025, 30(21), 4195; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30214195 - 27 Oct 2025
Viewed by 574
Abstract
Synthesis of anionic metal–organic framework Na[Ce(BDC)2(DMF)2] based on cerium (III)–sodium terephthalate was performed. The crystal structure, studied by the Rietveld method, consists of anionic [Ce(BDC)2]− layers, connected by interlayer sodium cations in a 3D network. Variable-temperature [...] Read more.
Synthesis of anionic metal–organic framework Na[Ce(BDC)2(DMF)2] based on cerium (III)–sodium terephthalate was performed. The crystal structure, studied by the Rietveld method, consists of anionic [Ce(BDC)2]− layers, connected by interlayer sodium cations in a 3D network. Variable-temperature PXRD, total X-ray scattering with pair distribution function analysis, and DFT calculations revealed framework structure stability upon DMF elimination and thermal treatment up to 300 °C. Modification with copper cations was performed using wetness impregnation with a Cu(NO3)2 methanol solution to obtain a catalyst for carbon monoxide oxidation. Cu2+@Na[Ce(BDC)2(DMF)2] in situ decomposition leads to the catalytic activity of the resulting CuO/CeO2 composite during CO gas oxidation by air. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 30th Anniversary of the MOF Concept)
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15 pages, 3083 KB  
Article
Synthesis of a Luminescent Aluminum-Based MOF for Selective Iron(III) Ion Sensing
by Hanibal Othman, István Boldog and Christoph Janiak
Molecules 2025, 30(20), 4146; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30204146 - 21 Oct 2025
Viewed by 728 | Correction
Abstract
In the search for new materials to open up creative pathways for industry and research, modification is one of the best methods to implement. Developing materials with high sensitivity and selectivity for specific applications, such as ion sensing, remains a significant challenge. This [...] Read more.
In the search for new materials to open up creative pathways for industry and research, modification is one of the best methods to implement. Developing materials with high sensitivity and selectivity for specific applications, such as ion sensing, remains a significant challenge. This work aims to introduce a novel metal–organic framework (MOF) derived from the well-established 2-amino-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid MOF by modifying its structure to enhance its properties and applications. A luminescent 2-naphthyl moiety was attached to the amino group of the linker to form the new luminescent Al-based MOF Al-BP-Naph with a surface area of 456 m2 g−1 and a pore volume of 0.55 cm3 g−1. Al-BP-Naph showed high selectivity towards Fe3+ sensing due to the overlapping absorption and excitation spectra of both Fe3+ and MOF. The MOF demonstrated a detection limit of approximately 6 × 10−6 mol L−1 with a limit of quantification of about 19 × 10−6 mol L−1 and a very fast response time (less than 10 s). It also had a Stern–Volmer constant of approximately 0.09 × 105 L mol−1, distinguishing it from other ions. Our work contributes to the expanding repertoire of functional materials with promising applications in sensing technologies, offering a novel MOF with superior properties for iron(III) ion detection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 30th Anniversary of the MOF Concept)
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Other

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2 pages, 527 KB  
Correction
Correction: Othman et al. Synthesis of a Luminescent Aluminum-Based MOF for Selective Iron(III) Ion Sensing. Molecules 2025, 30, 4146
by Hanibal Othman, István Boldog and Christoph Janiak
Molecules 2025, 30(23), 4540; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30234540 - 25 Nov 2025
Viewed by 115
Abstract
In the original publication [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 30th Anniversary of the MOF Concept)
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