Issue 19, 2021

Metal–organic framework thin films as versatile chemical sensing materials

Abstract

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely investigated as chemical sensing materials due to their periodic porosity, tunable chemical functionalities such as Lewis acid/base sites, potential conductivity and/or sensitive optical properties. However, most sensor devices require the integration of the sensing material as a thin film, which presents significant synthetic and stability challenges for MOF materials. In this review, we provide a background on why MOFs are excellent candidates for the chemical sensing of various analytes (i.e. gases, ions, pH), as well as different techniques for MOF thin film growth and the challenges associated with each method. Examples of different MOF thin film chemical sensor devices will be discussed, as well as their various transduction mechanisms: electrical, optical, and acoustic. The review concludes with an outlook on potential future innovations for MOF thin film chemical sensors, and the remaining challenges associated with real-world implementation.

Graphical abstract: Metal–organic framework thin films as versatile chemical sensing materials

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
19 jun 2021
Accepted
07 sep 2021
First published
07 sep 2021
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Mater. Adv., 2021,2, 6169-6196

Metal–organic framework thin films as versatile chemical sensing materials

J. E. Ellis, S. E. Crawford and K. Kim, Mater. Adv., 2021, 2, 6169 DOI: 10.1039/D1MA00535A

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