Building robust metal-organic frameworks with premade ligands

To date, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with diverse topological structures and functionalities have proven to be versatile materials with applications in catalysis, drug delivery, and more. Constructing robust MOFs against harsh stimuli poses a significant challenge due to fragile chemical bonds and dynamic behavior that may result in structural collapse. Researchers have actively worked to enhance the stability of MOFs via proposing various approaches for both academic and industrial applications. This review extensively explores the crucial role of organic ligands in contributing to MOFs' stabilities together with exhaustively illustrates the entire stability mechanisms. Additionally, from a synthesis strategy perspective, four types of methods—strong coordination donors, ligand rigidification, ligands modified with free-standing groups, and ligands with cross-linkable side chains or polymerization via post-treatment—are introduced to underscore their significance. Finally, the review presents typical applications of stable MOFs along with challenges and future perspectives, aiming to provide researchers with valuable insights into fabricating robust MOFs to address energy crises and environmental issues.