Smart metal-organic framework/polymer composites: Different stimuli and applications

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) attract considerable interest owing to their distinctive characteristics, including high porosity, chemical stability, and affordability. MOFs are created by linking metal ions with organic ligands, offer exceptional porosity and stability. MOFs have potential applications in different areas, including gas and liquid separation, catalysis, sensing, energy storage, environmental cleanup, and medicine. Additionally, smart polymers have gained prominence as advanced materials for their ability to undergo structural changes in response to applied stimuli. These polymers have many applications owing to their ability to change their properties in response to specific triggers. Efforts to combine the unique smart characteristics of MOFs and polymers have led to the creation of smart composites that exhibit flexibility and versatile performance, aiming to leverage the strengths of both materials. While MOFs offer high porosities and surface area, polymers provide flexibility and high-valuable performance. The hybridization of MOFs and polymers has opened up new possibilities for creating multifunctional nanocomposites with enhanced properties. However, laborious synthesis processes, low aqueous solubility, and poor electrical properties have hindered the practical application of MOFs. To address these limitations, smart MOF/polymer composites are being developed for different applications in biomedical, environmental, energy, and sensing fields. By combining the unique smart properties of MOFs and polymers, researchers aim to expand the utility of MOFs in different applications. Overall, the review highlights recent advancements in the use of responsive MOFs across diverse applications and emphasizes their versatility and tunability through functional groups manipulation and structural optimization. This interdisciplinary approach holds great potential to address complex challenges across industries and advance the field of smart materials.