Glassy MOFs: a New frontier in functional hybrid materials

Abstract

Glassy metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) represent a new class of hybrid materials that combine the chemical functionality of crystalline MOFs with the structural versatility of glasses. Through thermal treatments, applied pressure or direct synthesis, these materials can transition from an ordered crystalline state to an amorphous phase with enhanced mechanical, optical and chemical properties. They stand out for their thermal stability, high transparency, mechanical strength and adsorption capacity. Moreover, the development of MOF-glass composites further broadens their range of applications, enabling the controlled combination of crystalline and amorphous phases. Structural, thermal and spectroscopic characterisation is essential to understanding their behaviour and to guiding the design of new functional materials for applications in energy, catalysis, gas separation and optoelectronic devices.