Superhydrophobic MOF based materials and their applications for oil-water separation

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising for a variety of applications, such as gas adsorption, catalysis, and separation, due to their uniform porosity, versatile structures, tunable functional groups, and extremely high specific surface areas. The escalating discharge of industrial and domestic oily effluents and oil spills not only cause significant environmental concerns but also result in resource depletion. Consequently, efficient oil-water separation has attracted considerable interest. MOFs with exceptional wettability have emerged as promising materials for advanced oil-water separation. This review discusses the synthesis of superhydrophobic MOFs and their complexes for oil-water separation. We examine the current state of research and the challenges faced by MOFs in achieving effective oil-water separation face. In addition, we provide insightful perspectives and recommendations for the design, characterization, and application of MOFs.