Compositions and Structures of Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks

Abstract Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), which are composed of point metal centres and imidazolate linkers, can adopt numerous three‐dimensional structures. Their unique structures and porosity properties make ZIFs promising materials especially for gas separation applications. Recently their unusual phase transition properties are getting research attention rapidly. Indeed, all the properties of ZIFs are dependent on their structures. Although some empirical rules are known for discovering new ZIFs, still scientific intuition and trials are necessary to find proper reaction conditions. Also, practical information should be extracted from the accumulate achievements and in turn, applied to further exploration. In this regard, this article analyses the structures, compositions, and porosity of known ZIFs, where the relationship between imidazolates and topologies is described in detail.