Metal-organic frameworks for nanoarchitectures: nanoparticle, composite, core-shell, hierarchical, and hollow structures

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are fascinating solids because of their designable crystalline structures, high porosity, and easy tunability of their pore size and shape from the microporous to mesoporous scale. A large number of MOFs have been reported so far, and current research on MOFs is not limited to the synthesis of new structures. Recently, modification of MOFs has been focused on to enhance their efficiency for particular applications, and more importantly, to widen their applicability in various research areas. In this chapter, “nanoarchitectured” MOFs will be discussed as one of the subconcepts of “nanoarchitectonics,” which is the main theme of this book. That is, in this chapter, some important structural aspects (framework architecture, nanocrystalline particles, core-shell structures, and hollow and hierarchical porosity) of MOFs will be discussed. In addition, the modification of the MOFs in terms of composite formation with various components will be explained systematically.