molecules-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Current Research Status of Metal-Organic Frameworks and Covalent Organic Frameworks

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 3867

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
Interests: gas separation and storage; energy storage; thermal catalysis; hydrogen energy

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
Interests: lithium ion battery; energy storage; thermal catalysis; hydrogen energy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) represent two significant research avenues in the field of materials science. Their unique structures and properties have attracted considerable attention, and the research on MOFs and COFs is advancing rapidly, with promising applications in several fields. The research on MOFs is not only concerned with the optimisation of their structures and properties but also with their applications in specific fields. These include biomedicine, antimicrobial applications and orthopaedic materials, among others. In contrast, COFs demonstrate considerable potential in the fields of sensors, gas separation and electrochemical energy storage, due to their distinctive physicochemical properties. With a more profound comprehension of both materials and the advancement of more effective synthesis techniques, their impact on scientific research and industrial applications will continue to expand.

Dr. Teng Zhang
Prof. Dr. Wenju Wang
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 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. 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

  • gas separation
  • gas storage
  • catalyst
  • chemical sensing
  • biological application
  • energy storage

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

19 pages, 7438 KiB  
Article
Engineering pH and Temperature-Triggered Drug Release with Metal-Organic Frameworks and Fatty Acids
by Wanying Wei and Ping Lu
Molecules 2024, 29(22), 5291; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29225291 - 8 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1349
Abstract
This study reports the successful synthesis of core-shell microparticles utilizing coaxial electrospray techniques, with zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) encapsulating rhodamine B (RhB) in the core and a phase change material (PCM) shell composed of a eutectic mixture of lauric acid (LA) and stearic [...] Read more.
This study reports the successful synthesis of core-shell microparticles utilizing coaxial electrospray techniques, with zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) encapsulating rhodamine B (RhB) in the core and a phase change material (PCM) shell composed of a eutectic mixture of lauric acid (LA) and stearic acid (SA). ZIF-8 is well-recognized for its pH-responsive degradation and biocompatibility, making it an ideal candidate for targeted drug delivery. The LA-SA PCM mixture, with a melting point near physiological temperature (39 °C), enables temperature-triggered drug release, enhancing therapeutic precision. The structural properties of the microparticles were extensively characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Drug release studies revealed a dual-stimuli response, where the release of RhB was significantly influenced by both temperature and pH. Under mildly acidic conditions (pH 4.0) at 40 °C, a rapid and complete release of RhB was observed within 120 h, while at 37 °C, the release rate was notably slower. Specifically, the release at 40 °C was 79% higher than at 37 °C, confirming the temperature sensitivity of the system. Moreover, at physiological pH (7.4), minimal drug release occurred, demonstrating the system’s potential for minimizing premature drug release under neutral conditions. This dual-stimuli approach holds promise for improving therapeutic outcomes in cancer treatment by enabling precise control over drug release in response to both pH and localized hyperthermia, reducing off-target effects and improving patient compliance. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

32 pages, 9134 KiB  
Review
The Application of Multifunctional Metal–Organic Frameworks for the Detection, Adsorption, and Degradation of Contaminants in an Aquatic Environment
by Yachen Liu, Jinbin Yang, Junlin Wu, Zehao Jiang, Xinyu Zhang and Fanjun Meng
Molecules 2025, 30(6), 1336; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30061336 - 17 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 524
Abstract
Water pollution poses a severe threat to both aquatic ecosystems and human health, highlighting the crucial importance of monitoring and regulating its levels in water bodies. In contrast to traditional single-treatment approaches, multiple-treatment methods enable the simultaneous detection and removal of water pollutants [...] Read more.
Water pollution poses a severe threat to both aquatic ecosystems and human health, highlighting the crucial importance of monitoring and regulating its levels in water bodies. In contrast to traditional single-treatment approaches, multiple-treatment methods enable the simultaneous detection and removal of water pollutants using a single material. This innovation not only offers convenience but also fosters a more holistic and effective approach to water remediation. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are versatile porous materials that offer significant potential for use in wastewater treatment. This article examines the latest developments in the application of MOFs for multifaceted wastewater treatment. MOFs are used for simultaneous detection and removal, or for the detection and degradation of contaminants. Some MOFs exhibited different functions for different contaminants, and some MOFs showed one function (adsorption or detection) for more than one contaminant. All the multifunctional MOFs facilitate the multiple treatment of the real wastewater. Lastly, existing challenges and future outlooks concerning MOF materials for wastewater treatment are also addressed in this paper. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

44 pages, 6897 KiB  
Review
Overview of Liquid Sample Preparation Techniques for Analysis, Using Metal-Organic Frameworks as Sorbents
by Jakub Woźniak, Jakub Nawała, Daniel Dziedzic and Stanisław Popiel
Molecules 2024, 29(19), 4752; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29194752 - 8 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1641
Abstract
The preparation of samples for instrumental analysis is the most essential and time-consuming stage of the entire analytical process; it also has the greatest impact on the analysis results. Concentrating the sample, changing its matrix, and removing interferents are often necessary. Techniques for [...] Read more.
The preparation of samples for instrumental analysis is the most essential and time-consuming stage of the entire analytical process; it also has the greatest impact on the analysis results. Concentrating the sample, changing its matrix, and removing interferents are often necessary. Techniques for preparing samples for analysis are constantly being developed and modified to meet new challenges, facilitate work, and enable the determination of analytes in the most comprehensive concentration range possible. This paper focuses on using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as sorbents in the most popular techniques for preparing liquid samples for analysis, based on liquid-solid extraction. An increase in interest in MOFs-type materials has been observed for about 20 years, mainly due to their sorption properties, resulting, among others, from the high specific surface area, tunable pore size, and the theoretically wide possibility of their modification. This paper presents certain advantages and disadvantages of the most popular sample preparation techniques based on liquid-solid extraction, the newest trends in the application of MOFs as sorbents in those techniques, and, most importantly, presents the reader with a summary, which a specific technique and MOF for the desired application. To make a tailor-made and well-informed choice as to the extraction technique. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop