Design of two-dimensional metal–organic framework nanosheets for emerging applications

In this review, we summarized research efforts surrounding the synthesis, characterization of 2D MOFs nanosheets, main recommend the top-down methods and bottom-up methods. These strategies allow the fabrication of multifunctional materials and thus endow 2D MOFs nanosheets with very unique properties for a wide range of applications in catalysis, sensing, gas separations, storage energy and other fields. • Profound and full-scale perspective on recent progress of 2D MOFs nanosheets. • Comprehensively summarized synthetic methods for 2D MOFs nanosheets. • Properties and applications of 2D MOFs nanosheets in various fields. Two-dimensional metal–organic frameworks (2D MOFs) have attracted intensive attention owing to tailorable composition and structures, unique dimension-dependent properties, and tunable surface chemistry. Therefore, applications of 2D MOFs have been explored widely in many fields. To make practical application of the 2D MOFs fast, it is of vital importance to develop low-cost, controllable and facile synthesis. In recent years, significant progresses have been achieved in the synthesis of 2D MOFs nanosheets. In this review, we summarize the effective synthetic strategies, dividing them into top-down and bottom-up methods. Subsequently, we discuss the applications of these 2D MOFs nanosheets in electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, energy conversion/storage, gas separation, sensing and adhesion, and share insights into the challenges and prospects in this field.