Bismuth-based metal–organic frameworks and their derivatives: Opportunities and challenges

Bismuth-based metal–organic frameworks (Bi-MOFs) and their derivatives are a class of emerging promising coordination polymers with intriguing properties and functions. However, this specific type of MOFs is still in its infancy stage, which is limited by the flexible coordination environment and low solubility of Bi(III) cation. Herein, this review aims at providing a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in Bi-MOFs and their derivatives, focusing on the three aspects: synthesis, structure, applications. The solution chemistry for Bi(III) cation is discussed firstly. The diverse structure types of Bi-MOFs with different organic ligands are fully discussed and the formation of Bi-MOFs derivatives is highlighted in the following section. Then, the applications of Bi-MOFs and their derivatives are elaborated, including catalysis, energy storage, biomedical imaging, drug delivery, fluorescence sensing, adsorption and separation. Finally, referencing these studies, the insights and perspectives are suggested in terms of future research directions. With the context of recent pioneering studies on Bi-MOFs and their derivatives, we hope to stimulate some possibilities for further development in this field.