Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs): from porous crystalline materials to functional hybrid glasses

Abstract

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are one of the most versatile families within metal-organic materials. Their success arises from the combination of high chemical and thermal stability, broad structural diversity, and the possibility of tuning their properties through the choice of metal, linker, and synthetic route. In recent years, interest in ZIFs has increased even further due to the discovery of their amorphous, liquid, and glassy phases, which open a new dimension in the chemistry of hybrid materials. This article reviews the structural foundations of ZIFs, their polymorphism, their main synthetic approaches, and their ability to amorphize, melt, and form glasses. Their characterization and emerging applications in gas separation, energy storage, optics, and functional materials are also discussed.