Paper Summary
Shekhah, O., Liu, J., Fischer, R. A., & Wöll, C. (2011). MOF thin films: existing and future applications. Chemical
Society Reviews, 40(2), 1081-1106. https://doi.org/10.1039/c0cs00147c
Robert Kennedy Otieno
ENG-318-001/2021
The paper discusses the applications and potentials of thin film coatings of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)
supported on various substrates. MOFs are porous materials composed of metal nodes and organic linkers that can
form different structures and host various guest molecules. Thin film coatings of MOFs can offer advantages such as
enhanced mass transport, improved stability, controlled orientation and integration with other functional materials. It
is organized into six sections: Introduction, Synthesis Methods, Fabrication, Characterization techniques,
Applications, Challenges and Perspectives and Conclusions.
The authors introduce the concept and properties of MOFs, their advantages and challenges for thin film fabrication,
and their potential applications in various fields such as gas separation, catalysis, sensing, optics and electronics.
The authors review the main synthesis methods for MOF thin films, such as solvothermal growth, layer-by-layer
assembly, spray coating, spin coating, dip coating and chemical vapour deposition. They compare the advantages
and disadvantages of each method in terms of film quality, thickness, uniformity, orientation and scalability. The
main characterization techniques for MOF thin films are discussed. Such techniques include X-ray diffraction,
scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, infrared spectroscopy,
quartz crystal microbalance and gas adsorption. The authors highlight the challenges and limitations of each
technique for probing the structure, morphology, porosity and functionality of MOF thin films. Current and future
applications of MOF thin films are discussed various domains: QCM-based sensors, Measurement of diffusion
coefficients in porous metal–organic frameworks, catalysis and photocatalysis, sensing and detection in Fabry-perot
device as a selective sensor for chemical vapours and gases, and in optics and electronics. The authors provide
examples of MOF thin films that have demonstrated superior performance or novel functionality in each domain,
such as selective gas permeation, enhanced catalytic activity, sensitive gas detection, tunable optical properties and
electrical conductivity.
The authors identify the main challenges and perspectives for MOF thin film research and development, such as
improving film quality and stability, optimizing film thickness and orientation, designing multifunctional MOF thin
films, integrating MOF thin films with other materials and devices, scaling up MOF thin film production and testing
MOF thin film performance under realistic conditions.
The paper is a comprehensive and critical review of the state-of-the-art of MOF thin film research. It provides a
clear overview of the synthesis methods, characterization techniques and applications of MOF thin films, as well as
the challenges and perspectives for future work. It is well-written, well-structured and well-referenced. It is suitable
for researchers who are interested in learning about MOF thin films or who are working on related topics. The paper
demonstrates a high level of methodological rigor and innovation in the field of MOF thin films. The authors
provide a thorough review of the literature and cite relevant sources to support their arguments. They also present
original data and analysis from their own experiments and compare them with other studies.
However, the paper also has some limitations that could be improved in future work. The paper does not provide a
clear definition or classification of MOF thin films and their types. It would be helpful to have a consistent
terminology and criteria to distinguish between different kinds of MOF thin films based on their structure,
composition, thickness, morphology, etc. It does not discuss the challenges and drawbacks of MOF thin films in
terms of stability, reproducibility, scalability, cost-effectiveness, environmental impact, etc. It would be useful to
address these issues and suggest possible solutions or alternatives to overcome them. It does not compare or contrast
MOF thin films with other types of thin films or materials that have similar or competing applications. It would be
interesting to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of MOF thin films over other materials in terms of
performance, efficiency, selectivity, sensitivity, etc. It does not provide a clear explanation or mechanism for some
of the phenomena observed in MOF thin films, such as luminescence, diffusion, stress-induced chemical detection,
etc. It would be beneficial to have more theoretical or computational models or simulations to support the
experimental findings and elucidate the underlying processes involved. It also failed to include a comparison or
evaluation of MOF thin films with other types of thin film materials, such as zeolites or polymers, which could
provide more insights into their advantages and disadvantages. It does not discuss the potential environmental and
health impacts of MOF thin films, which are important aspects to consider for their practical applications.
It is concluded that that MOF thin films are promising materials for various applications that require high surface
area, porosity, selectivity and functionality. They state that further research is needed to overcome the existing
challenges and to explore new opportunities for MOF thin film design and fabrication.
