Metal-organic framework based self-powered devices for human body energy harvesting

The shift from traditional bulky electronics to smart wearable devices represents a crucial trend in technological advancement. In recent years, the focus has intensified on harnessing thermal and mechanical energy from human activities to power small wearable electronics. This vision has attracted considerable attention from researchers, with an emphasis on the development of suitable materials that can efficiently convert human body energy into usable electrical form. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with their unique tunable structures, large surface areas, and high porosity, emerge as a promising material category for human body energy harvesting due to their ability to be precisely engineered at the molecular level, which allows for the optimization of their properties to suit specific energy harvesting needs. This article explores the progressive development of MOF materials, highlighting their potential in the realm of self-power devices for wearable applications. It first introduces the typical energy harvesting routes that are particularly suitable for harvesting human body energy, including thermoelectric, triboelectric, and piezoelectric techniques. Then, it delves into various research advances that have demonstrated the efficacy of MOFs in capturing and converting body-generated energy into electrical energy, emphasizing on the conceptual design, device fabrication, and applications in medical health monitoring, human-computer interaction, and motion monitoring. Furthermore, it discusses potential future directions for research in MOF-based self-powered devices and outlines perspectives that could drive breakthroughs in the efficiency and practicality of these devices.

Recent advances and potential applications for metal-organic framework (MOFs) and MOFs-derived materials: Characterizations and antimicrobial activities

Microbial infections, particularly those caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens, pose a critical global health threat. Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), porous crystalline structures built from metal ions and organic linkers, initially developed for gas adsorption, have emerged as promising alternatives to traditional antibiotics. This review, covering research up to 2023, explores the potential of MOFs and MOF-based materials as broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even parasites. It delves into the historical context of antimicrobial agents, recent advancements in MOF research, and the diverse synthesis techniques employed for their production. Furthermore, the review comprehensively analyzes the mechanisms of action by which MOFs combat various microbial threats. By highlighting the vast potential of MOFs, their diverse synthesis methods, and their effectiveness against various pathogens, this study underscores their potential as a novel solution to the growing challenge of antibiotic resistance.

Heavy metal sequestration from wastewater by metal-organic frameworks: a state-of-the-art review of recent progress

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as highly promising adsorbents for removing heavy metals from wastewater due to their tunable structures, high surface areas, and exceptional adsorption capacities. This review meticulously examines and summarizes recent advancements in producing and utilizing MOF-based adsorbents for sequestering heavy metal ions from water. It begins by outlining and contrasting commonly employed methods for synthesizing MOFs, such as solvothermal, microwave, electrochemical, ultrasonic, and mechanochemical. Rather than delving into the specifics of adsorption process parameters, the focus shifts to analyzing the adsorption capabilities and underlying mechanisms against critical metal(loid) ions like chromium, arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury under various environmental conditions. Additionally, this article discusses strategies to optimize MOF performance, scale-up production, and address environmental implications. The comprehensive review aims to enhance the understanding of MOF-based adsorption for heavy metal remediation and stimulate further research in this critical field. In brief, this review article presents a comprehensive overview of the contemporary information on MOFs as an effective adsorbent and the challenges being faced by these adsorbents for heavy metal mitigation (including stability, cost, environmental issues, and optimization), targeting to develop a vital reference for future MOF research.

MOF-Based Chemiresistive Gas Sensors: Toward New Functionalities

The sensing performances of gas sensors must be improved and diversified to enhance quality of life by ensuring health, safety, and convenience. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which exhibit an extremely high surface area, abundant porosity, and unique surface chemistry, provide a promising framework for facilitating gas-sensor innovations. Enhanced understanding of conduction mechanisms of MOFs has facilitated their use as gas-sensing materials, and various types of MOFs have been developed by examining the compositional and morphological dependences and implementing catalyst incorporation and light activation. Owing to their inherent separation and absorption properties and catalytic activity, MOFs are applied as molecular sieves, absorptive filtering layers, and heterogeneous catalysts. In addition, oxide- or carbon-based sensing materials with complex structures or catalytic composites can be derived by the appropriate post-treatment of MOFs. This review discusses the effective techniques to design optimal MOFs, in terms of computational screening and synthesis methods. Moreover, the mechanisms through which the distinctive functionalities of MOFs as sensing materials, heterostructures, and derivatives can be incorporated in gas-sensor applications are presented.

Optimisation of a Greener-Approach for the Synthesis of Cyclodextrin-Based Nanosponges for the Solubility Enhancement of Domperidone, a BCS Class II Drug

BCS class II molecules suffer from low oral bioavailability because of their poor permeability and sub-optimal aqueous solubility. One of the approaches to enhance their bioavailability is using cyclodextrin-based nanosponges. This study aimed to optimise and evaluate the feasibility of a microwave-assisted approach to synthesise nanosponges and improve domperidone's solubility and drug delivery potential. In the production process, microwave power level, response speed, and stirring speed were optimised using the Box-Behnken approach. Ultimately, the batch with the smallest particle size and highest yield was chosen. The optimised method of synthesis of the nanosponges resulted in a product yield of 77.4% and a particle size of 195.68 ± 2.16 nm. The nanocarriers had a drug entrapment capacity of 84 ± 4.2% and a zeta potential of -9.17± 0.43 mV. The similarity and the difference factors demonstrated proof-of-concept, showing that the drug release from the loaded nanosponges is significantly greater than the plain drug. Additionally, spectral and thermal characterisations, such as FTIR, DSC, and XRD, confirmed the entrapment of the drug within the nanocarrier. SEM scans revealed the porous nature of the nanocarriers. Microwave-assisted synthesis could be used as a better and greener approach to synthesise these nanocarriers. It could then be utilised to load drugs and improve their solubility, as seen in the case of domperidone.

The Properties of Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Metal-Organic Frameworks and Their Applications

Metal-organic frameworks (MOF) are a class of porous materials with various functions based on their host-guest chemistry. Their selectivity, diffusion kinetics, and catalytic activity are influenced by their design and synthetic procedure. The synthesis of different MOFs has been of considerable interest during the past decade thanks to their various applications in the arena of sensors, catalysts, adsorption, and electronic devices. Among the different techniques for the synthesis of MOFs, such as the solvothermal, sonochemical, ionothermal, and mechanochemical processes, microwave-assisted synthesis has clinched a significant place in MOF synthesis. The main assets of microwave-assisted synthesis are the short reaction time, the fast rate of nucleation, and the modified properties of MOFs. The review encompasses the development of the microwave-assisted synthesis of MOFs, their properties, and their applications in various fields.

Nanoscale MOFs: From synthesis to drug delivery and theranostics applications

Since the first report in 1989, Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) self-assembled from metal ions or clusters, as well as organic linkers, have attracted extensive attention. Due to their flexible composition, large surface areas, modifiable surface properties, and their degradability, there has been an exponential increase in the study of MOFs materials, specifically in drug delivery system areas such as infection, diabetes, pulmonary disease, ocular disease, imaging, tumor therapy, and especially cancer theranostics. In this review, we discuss the trends in MOFs biosafety, from "green" synthesis to applications in drug delivery systems. Firstly, we present the different "green" synthesis approaches used to prepare MOFs materials. Secondly, we detail the methods for the functional coating, either through grafting targeting units, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains or by using cell membranes. Then, we discuss drug encapsulation strategies, host-guest interactions, as well as drug release mechanisms. Lastly, we report on the drug delivery applications of nanoscale MOFs. In particular, we discuss MOFs-based imaging techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), photoacoustic imaging (PAI), positron emission tomography (PET), and fluorescence imaging. MOFs-based cancer therapy methods are also presented, such as photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.

Metal-Organic Framework Materials for Electrochemical Supercapacitors

Exploring new materials with high stability and capacity is full of challenges in sustainable energy conversion and storage systems. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as a new type of porous material, show the advantages of large specific surface area, high porosity, low density, and adjustable pore size, exhibiting a broad application prospect in the field of electrocatalytic reactions, batteries, particularly in the field of supercapacitors. This comprehensive review outlines the recent progress in synthetic methods and electrochemical performances of MOF materials, as well as their applications in supercapacitors. Additionally, the superiorities of MOFs-related materials are highlighted, while major challenges or opportunities for future research on them for electrochemical supercapacitors have been discussed and displayed, along with extensive experimental experiences.

Porous Adsorption Materials for Carbon Dioxide Capture in Industrial Flue Gas

Due to the intensification of the greenhouse effect and the emphasis on the utilization of CO₂ resources, the enrichment and separation of CO₂ have become a current research focus in the environment and energy. Compared with other technologies, pressure swing adsorption has the advantages of low cost and high efficiency and has been widely used. The design and preparation of high-efficiency adsorbents is the core of the pressure swing adsorption technology. Therefore, high-performance porous CO₂ adsorption materials have attracted increasing attention. Porous adsorption materials with high specific surface area, high CO₂ adsorption capacity, low regeneration energy, good cycle performance, and moisture resistance have been focused on. This article summarizes the optimization of CO₂ adsorption by porous adsorption materials and then applies them to the field of CO₂ adsorption. The internal laws between the pore structure, surface chemistry, and CO₂ adsorption performance of porous adsorbent materials are discussed. Further development requirements and research focus on porous adsorbent materials for CO₂ treatment in industrial waste gas are prospected. The structural design of porous carbon adsorption materials is still the current research focus. With the requirements of applications and environmental conditions, the integrity, mechanical strength and water resistance of high-performance materials need to be met.

MIL series of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) as novel adsorbents for heavy metals in water: A review

With large specific surface area, abundant adsorption sites, flexible pore structure, and good water stability, Materials of Institute Lavoisier frameworks (MILs) have attracted increasing attention as effective environmental adsorbents. This review systematically analyzes and recapitulates recent progress in the synthesis and application of MIL-based adsorbents for the removal of aqueous heavy metal ions. Commonly used solvothermal, microwave, electrochemical, ultrasonic, and mechanochemical syntheses of MILs are first summarized and compared. Instead of focusing on adsorption process parameters, adsorption performances and governing mechanisms of virgin MILs, functional MILs, MIL-based composites, and carbonized MILs to representative metal(loid) ions (chromium, arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury) in water under various conditions are then systematically reviewed and discussed. In the end, this work also outlines prospects and future directions to promote the applications of MILs in treating heavy metal contaminated water.

Metal organic frameworks for electrochemical sensor applications: A review

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are broadly known as porous coordination polymers, synthesized by metal-based nodes and organic linkers. MOFs are used in various fields like catalysis, energy storage, sensors, drug delivery etc., due to their versatile properties (tailorable pore size, high surface area, and exposed active sites). This review presents a detailed discussion of MOFs as an electrochemical sensor and their enhancement in the selectivity and sensitivity of the sensor. These sensors are used for the detection of heavy metal ions like Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Hg²⁺, and Cu²⁺ from groundwater. Various types of organic pollutants are also detected from the water bodies using MOFs. Furthermore, electrochemical sensing of antibiotics, phenolic compounds, and pesticides has been explored. In addition to this, there is also a detailed discussion of metal nano-particles and metal-oxide based composites which can sense various compounds like glucose, amino acids, uric acid etc. The review will be helpful for young researchers, and an inspiration to future research as challenges and future opportunities of MOF-based electrochemical sensors are also reported.

Synthesis, modifications and applications of MILs Metal-organic frameworks for environmental remediation: The cutting-edge review

Ever-increasing anthropogenic activities are radically deteriorating the environment by causing severe pollution. Thus, curtailing the environmental pollution and promotion of sustainable development, are the hot issues confronted by scientists in this modern era. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been highly recognized as emerging promising materials for environmental remediation due to their versatile structure and extraordinary properties. Among them, MILs (MIL = Matérial Institute of Lavoisier) are the series of MOFs mostly known for their incredible stability, unique tailorable pore structures, and astounding versatile environmental applications. Their exclusive physiochemical properties and multifunctionality make them proficient for a wide range of pollutants removal in the exposure of versatile harsh environments, compared to other MOFs. This piece of research summarizes the state-of-the-art of development of MILs on the broad spectrum, highlighting their specificities, such as synthesis techniques, modifications and applications for environmental remediation. However, MILs wonderful properties and extraordinary applications in multiple fields, their deployment on practical and commercial-scale pollutants remediation is hindered by insufficient scientific research on underlying mechanisms and relationships. Henceforth, this review not only signifies the emerging importance of MILs for environmental applications but also indicates the urgency to maximize the scientific research for exploitation of MOFs on a practical level and promotion of green technologies for environmental remediation.

Metal-organic frameworks for active food packaging. A review

Food wastage is a major concern for sustainable health and agriculture. To reduce food waste, classical preservation techniques such as drying, pasteurization, freeze-drying, fermentation, and microwave are available. Nonetheless, these techniques display shortcomings such as alteration of food and taste. Such shortcomings may be solved by active food packaging, which involves the incorporation of active agents into the packaging material. Recently, metal-organic frameworks, a class of porous hybrid supramolecular materials, have been developed as an active agent to extend food shelf life and maintain safety. Here, we review metal-organic frameworks in active packaging as oxygen scavengers, antimicrobials, moisture absorbers, and ethylene scavengers. We present methods of incorporation of metal-organic frameworks into packaging materials and their applications.

Porous organic-inorganic hybrid materials for catalysis, energy and environmental applications

Introduction of organic functionalities into the porous inorganic materials make the resulting hybrid porous framework not only more flexible and hydrophobic, but also provide additional scope for further functionalization, which...

Iron-based metal-organic framework: Synthesis, structure and current technologies for water reclamation with deep insight into framework integrity

Water is a supreme requirement for the existence of life, the contamination from the point and non-point sources are creating a great threat to the water ecosystem. Advance tools and techniques are required to restore the water quality and metal-organic framework (MOFs) with a tunable porous structure, striking physical and chemical properties are an excellent candidate for it. Fe-based MOFs, which developed rapidly in recent years, are foreseen as most promising to overcome the disadvantages of traditional water depolluting practices. Fe-MOFs with low toxicity and preferable stability possess excellent performance potential for almost all water remedying techniques in contrast to other MOF structures, especially visible light photocatalysis, Fenton, and Fenton-like heterogeneous catalysis. Fe-MOFs become essential tool for water treatment due to their high catalytic activity, abundant active site and pollutant-specific adsorption. However, the structural degradation under external chemical, photolytic, mechanical, and thermal stimuli is impeding Fe-MOFs from further improvement in activity and their commercialization. Understanding the shortcomings of structural integrity is crucial for large-scale synthesis and commercial implementation of Fe-MOFs-based water treatment techniques. Herein we summarize the synthesis, structure and recent advancements in water remediation methods using Fe-MOFs in particular more attention is paid for adsorption, heterogeneous catalysis and photocatalysis with clear insight into the mechanisms involved. For ease of analysis, the pollutants have been classified into two major classes; inorganic pollutants and organic pollutants. In this review, we present for the first time a detailed insight into the challenges in employing Fe-MOFs for water remediation due to structural instability.

Nanoscale Metal-Organic Frameworks: Recent developments in synthesis, modifications and bioimaging applications

Porous Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as eye-catching materials in recent years. They are widely used in numerous fields of chemistry thanks to their desirable properties. MOFs have a key role in the development of bioimaging platforms that are hopefully expected to effectually pave the way for accurate and selective detection and diagnosis of abnormalities. Recently, many types of MOFs have been employed for detection of RNA, DNA, enzyme activity and small-biomolecules, as well as for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), which are valuable methods for clinical analysis. The optimal performance of the MOF in the bio-imaging field depends on the core structure, synthesis method and modifications processes. In this review, we have attempted to present crucial parameters for designing and achieving an efficient MOF as bioimaging platforms, and provide a roadmap for researchers in this field. Moreover, the influence of modifications/fractionalizations on MOFs performance has been thoroughly discussed and challenging problems have been extensively addressed. Consideration is mainly focused on the principal concepts and applications that have been achieved to modify and synthesize advanced MOFs for future applications.

Metal-organic frameworks for advanced drug delivery

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), comprised of organic ligands and metal ions/metal clusters via coordinative bonds are highly porous, crystalline materials. Their tunable porosity, chemical composition, size and shape, and easy surface functionalization make this large family more and more popular for drug delivery. There is a growing interest over the last decades in the design of engineered MOFs with controlled sizes for a variety of biomedical applications. This article presents an overall review and perspectives of MOFs-based drug delivery systems (DDSs), starting with the MOFs classification adapted for DDSs based on the types of constituting metals and ligands. Then, the synthesis and characterization of MOFs for DDSs are developed, followed by the drug loading strategies, applications, biopharmaceutics and quality control. Importantly, a variety of representative applications of MOFs are detailed from a point of view of applications in pharmaceutics, diseases therapy and advanced DDSs. In particular, the biopharmaceutics and quality control of MOFs-based DDSs are summarized with critical issues to be addressed. Finally, challenges in MOFs development for DDSs are discussed, such as biostability, biosafety, biopharmaceutics and nomenclature.

A Showcase of Green Chemistry: Sustainable Synthetic Approach of Zirconium-Based MOF Materials

Zirconium-based metal-organic framework materials (Zr-MOFs) have more practical usage over most conventional benchmark porous materials and even many other MOFs due to the excellent structural stability, rich coordination forms, and various active sites. However, their mass-production and application are restricted by the high-cost raw materials, complex synthesis procedures, harsh reaction conditions, and unexpected environmental impact. Based on the principles of "Green Chemistry", considerable efforts have been done for breaking through the limitations, and significant progress has been made in the sustainable synthesis of Zr-MOFs over the past decade. In this review, the advancements of green raw materials and green synthesis methods in the synthesis of Zr-MOFs are reviewed, along with the corresponding drawbacks. The challenges and prospects are discussed and outlooked, expecting to provide guidance for the acceleration of the industrialization and commercialization of Zr-MOFs.

MOFs as Potential Matrices in Cyclodextrin Glycosyltransferase Immobilization

Cyclodextrins (CDs) and their derivatives have attracted significant attention in the pharmaceutical, food, and textile industries, which has led to an increased demand for their production. CD is typically produced by the action of cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) on starch. Owing to the relatively high cost of enzymes, the economic feasibility of the entire process strongly depends on the effective retention and recycling of CGTase in the reaction system, while maintaining its stability. CGTase enzymes immobilized on various supports such as porous glass beads or glyoxyl-agarose have been previously used to achieve this objective. Nevertheless, the attachment of biocatalysts on conventional supports is associated with numerous drawbacks, including enzyme leaching prominent in physical adsorption, reduced activity as a result of chemisorption, and increased mass transfer limitations. Recent reports on the successful utilization of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as supports for various enzymes suggest that CGTase could be immobilized for enhanced production of CDs. The three-dimensional microenvironment of MOFs could maintain the stability of CGTase while posing minimal diffusional limitations. Moreover, the presence of different functional groups on the surfaces of MOFs could provide multiple points for attachment of CGTase, thereby reducing enzyme loss through leaching. The present review focuses on the advantages MOFs can offer as support for CGTase immobilization as well as their potential for application in CD production.

Syntheses, design strategies, and photocatalytic charge dynamics of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs): a catalyzed photo-degradation approach towards organic dyes

The presented review focuses on design strategies to develop tailor-made MOFs/CPs of main group, transition and inner-transition elements and their photocatalytic properties to decompose dyes in wastewater discharge and their photocatalytic mechanism.

Understanding the opportunities of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for CO2 capture and gas-phase CO2 conversion processes: a comprehensive overview

The rapid increase in the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide is one of the most pressing problems facing our planet.

Sustainable synthesis of modulated Fe-MOFs with enhanced catalyst performance for persulfate to degrade organic pollutants

In this study, four typical modulators (NH₄OH(A), CH₃COOH(B), CH₃COONa(C) and CH₃COONH₄(D)) were applied to modulate the microwave-assisted synthesis of Fe-MOFs. The effects of various modulators on the yield, electrochemistry activity and PS activation capacity of prepared catalysts were systematically investigated. The ideal modulator was revealed as the 7.5 mM CH₃COONH₄. Contributed by the defects caused by the dual effects of CH₃COONH₄, Fe-MOFs-D-7.5/PS system showed excellent orange G (OG) degradation with high reaction stoichiometric efficiency (RSE) and desirable recycling performance. The main radicals should be SO₄^·- and O₂^·- which were confirmed by EPR and chemical quenchers. Furthermore, the frontier molecular orbital (FMO) theory and dual descriptor (DD) method were employed in predicting radical attacking sites of OG. According to the results of theoretical computations and experimental detection, degradation pathways of OG in Fe-MOFs-D-7.5/PS system were proposed. Similar to the function of the battery, this study gives new insight into the possible mediatory roles of Fe-MOFs-D-7.5 in PS activation by transferring the electrons between PS and the unsaturated metal sites (CUS). The Fe-MOFs-D-7.5/PS system is a promising process for environmental remediation.

Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and ultrasound: A review

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have received a lot of attention due to their unique properties and abundant functionalities. Permanent porosity and high surface area are just a few traits that have made them attractive to researchers. They can be prepared as task-specific materials by exploiting the functional group variety and tuning their size and geometry. The main purpose of this review is to present an alternative method of preparing MOF crystals and underline the advantages of ultrasound assisted (sonochemical) synthesis. State of the art ultrasound assisted techniques for the preparation of MOFs in nanoscale are presented. Optimization of morphology and particle size is highlighted throughout this work, as we discuss the effects of various factors, such as energy input, reagent concentration, adequate solvents, reaction time and more.

Structure, characterization, and catalytic properties of open-metal sites in metal organic frameworks

This review provides an overview of the current understanding of structure–catalytic properties of open-metal sites in metal organic framework materials.

New synthetic routes towards MOF production at scale

The potential commercial applications for metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are tantalizing. To address the opportunity, many novel approaches for their synthesis have been developed recently. These strategies present a critical step towards harnessing the myriad of potential applications of MOFs by enabling larger scale production and hence real-world applications. This review provides an up-to-date survey ( references) of the most promising novel synthetic routes, i.e., electrochemical, microwave, mechanochemical, spray drying and flow chemistry synthesis. Additionally, the essential topic of downstream processes, especially for large scale synthesis, is critically reviewed. Lastly we present the current state of MOF commercialization with direct feedback from commercial players.

Highly selective adsorption of p-xylene over other C8 aromatic hydrocarbons by Co-CUK-1: a combined experimental and theoretical assessment

High quality crystalline Co-CUK-1 can be synthesized rapidly and efficiently by a microwave-assisted method. The resulting microporous coordination material is a highly effective adsorbent for the separation of xylene isomers and ethylbenzene, as demonstrated here through sorption isotherm analysis, Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory (IAST) calculations, and grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations. Co-CUK-1 showed high sorption capacity and high adsorption selectivity for p-xylene over the corresponding m- and o-isomers, and ethylbenzenes. According to the data obtained from IAST and GCMC simulations, the Co-CUK-1 is found to strongly favour p-xylene adsorption because p-xylene molecules undergo well-defined molecular packing in the 1-D channels; by comparison, the packing efficiencies of o-xylene, m-xylene and ethylbenzene are significantly lower, as is evidenced by lower saturation capacities.

Scalable simultaneous activation and separation of metal–organic frameworks

Despite the many promising applications of Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) the key advances to boost production to industrial scale still remain elusive.

Continuous-flow hydrothermal synthesis for the production of inorganic nanomaterials

As nanotechnology becomes increasingly important and ubiquitous, new and scalable synthetic approaches are needed to meet the growing demand for industrially viable routes to nanomaterial production. Continuous-flow hydrothermal synthesis or supercritical water hydrothermal synthesis (scWHS) is emerging as a versatile solution to this problem. The process was initially developed to take advantage of the tunable chemical and physical properties of superheated water to produce metal oxide nanoparticles by rapid nucleation and precipitation. The development of new mixing regimes and reactor designs has been facilitated by the modelling of reactor systems. These new reactor designs further exploit the properties of supercritical water to promote faster and more uniform mixing of reagent streams. The synthetic approach has been expanded beyond the metal oxide systems for which it was conceived, and now encompasses metal sulfides, metal phosphates, metal nanoparticles and metal-organic frameworks. In many of these cases, some degree of size and shape control can be achieved through careful consideration of both chemistry and reactor design. This review briefly considers the development of scWHS reactor technology, before highlighting some of our recent work in expanding the scope of this synthetic method to include a wide range of materials.

Large-scale continuous hydrothermal production and activation of ZIF-8

A new method for the large-scale hydrothermal production and activation of ZIF-8 is presented in this communication. Activated ZIF-8 has been produced, at lab-scale and pilot-scale, at a rate of 27 g h⁻¹ and 810 g h⁻¹ respectively with the activated material showing a surface area of 1800 m² g⁻¹.