Micro/Nano-Scaled Metal-Organic Frameworks and Their Derivatives for Energy Applications

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as a distinctive class of crystalline porous materials, are constructed by organic linkers and metal ions/clusters. By virtue of their high surface area, structural diversity, and functional adjustability, MOFs and their derivatives, especially with tunable morphologies and sizes, have been well exploited for versatile applications, becoming a rapidly developing interdisciplinary research area. This review focusses on the design and synthesis of 1D, 2D, and 3D MOF nanostructures and their derivatives at micro/nanoscale, with promising catalytic applications including electrocatalysis and photocatalysis, as well as, energy storage like batteries and supercapacitors. The results are discussed and the critical insights gained from the works in this review are summarized, and the challenges and future prospects for this emerging field are outlined.