Tetratopic zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks: Synthesis and application in environmental remediation via adsorption and catalysis

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are highly versatile porous materials with applications spanning gas storage, catalysis, and sensing. Among the MOFs, zirconium-based ones (Zr-MOFs) stand out due to their exceptional chemical, mechanical, and thermal stability, which is crucial for practical applications in harsh conditions. The choice of organic linker is paramount in MOF design; tetradentate linkers, with their four coordination points, significantly enhance framework connectivity, leading to superior stability, large pore volumes, and intricate architectures. This review firstly provides a comprehensive overview of Zr-MOFs constructed with tetratopic organic linkers, focusing on their structural features, synthesis strategies, and diverse applications in environmental remediation, including gas capture (e.g., CO₂) and catalysis. This review highlights the unique advantages and promising future of tetratopic Zr-MOFs.