Proton Conduction in Zirconium-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks for Advanced Applications

Zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) have emerged as a promising class of crystalline porous materials, attracting significant interest in the field of proton conduction due to their exceptional chemical stability, structural flexibility, and functional tunability. Notably, proton-conducting Zr-MOFs show immense potential for diverse advanced technological applications. In this Spotlight on Applications paper, we provide an overview of proton-conducting Zr-MOFs and spotlight the recent progress of their utilization as proton exchange membranes in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), light-responsive systems for proton pumps, and chemical sensors for formic acid detection. Furthermore, we also discussed the challenges, future prospects, and opportunities for promoting the application of proton-conducting Zr-MOFs.