Electrospinning of Metal–Organic Frameworks for Energy and Environmental Applications

TLDR: The unique properties and performance of the different types of MOF nanofibers and their derivatives are explained in respect to their use in energy and environmental applications, including air filtration, water treatment, gas storage and separation, electrochemical energy conversion and storage, and heterogeneous catalysis.

Abstract: Herein, recent developments of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) structured into nanofibers by electrospinning are summarized, including the fabrication, post-treatment via pyrolysis, properties, and use of the resulting MOF nanofiber architectures. The fabrication and post-treatment of the MOF nanofiber architectures are described systematically by two routes: i) the direct electrospinning of MOF-polymer nanofiber composites, and ii) the surface decoration of nanofiber structures with MOFs. The unique properties and performance of the different types of MOF nanofibers and their derivatives are explained in respect to their use in energy and environmental applications, including air filtration, water treatment, gas storage and separation, electrochemical energy conversion and storage, and heterogeneous catalysis. Finally, challenges with the fabrication of MOF nanofibers, limitations for their use, and trends for future developments are presented.