Metal–organic frameworks: a new class of porous materials

A review of the synthesis, structure, and properties of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is presented, highlighting the important advances in their research over the past decade. This new class of porous materials is attracting attention due to demonstrations of their large pore sizes, high apparent surface areas, selective uptake of small molecules, and optical or magnetic responses to the inclusion of guests. More importantly, their synthesis from molecular building blocks holds the potential for directed tailoring of these properties.