Regulation of the Degree of Interpenetration in Metal-Organic Frameworks

Interpenetration in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can have significant impacts on the structure, porous nature, and functional applications of MOFs. Considered to be disadvantageous in the initial phases leading to a decrease in surface area, interpenetration has proved to be highly useful for modulation of pore size and selective separation of gases. The importance of interpenetration has been realized over the last decade, and numerous approaches to graft interpenetration and utilize it for improved functions and applications have been achieved. Several factors such as temperature, solvent system, time duration and steric aspects of the ligands have been utilized to regulate the degree of interpenetration (DOI). In this review, we summarize recent advances in regulating the DOI in MOFs and its impact on the resulting properties.