Mechanical Properties of Shaped Metal-Organic Frameworks

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have gathered tremendous interest among researchers for their potential applications such as in storage and separation. While some progress has been made towards shaping of MOFs to realize industrial applications, the mechanical properties of MOFs remain more or less unexplored. Over the last decade, this area has witnessed a steady growth in terms of understanding the mechanical stability of MOFs and its consequence on their performance. In this review, the mechanical properties of the reported macroscopic shaped MOF structures (mainly granules, pellets, tablets, monoliths, and gels) are discussed. Conclusions are then drawn to determine which shapes and shaping techniques promise to meet industrial requirements on the basis of mechanical stability. Finally, future research directions are proposed to improve our understanding, and possibly enhance stability, by correlating the properties from microscopic single-crystalline level to the industrially relevant macroscopic polycrystalline scale.