Optimization Strategies of the Design and Preparation of Metal–Organic Framework Nanostructures for Water Sorption: A Review

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as popular nanomaterials have outstanding application prospects in water sorption applications due to their unique structures with excellent properties, such as high porosity, large specific surface area, nanoscale features, reticulation structure, and controllable adjustment of the pore size. Sorbents require high water sorption and water stability to collect, utilize, or remove water. The structure of most MOFs is destroyed upon contact with water, which greatly limits their practical application. This paper summarizes the internal mechanism of water-stable MOFs and describes the optimal design strategy of water-stabilized MOFs based on the structural design of water-stabilized MOFs and the modification of existing MOFs. This review summarizes and analyzes the current typical MOF synthesis and preparation methods. Solutions are proposed for the problems of MOFs in terms of the synthesis mechanism, mass production, and application, and the manufacturing strategies and long-term reliability of MOFs are also prospected. The water sorption mechanism of water-stable MOFs and the influencing factors of water sorption behavior are described, and the optimization strategy of the water sorption performance of MOFs is proposed in terms of the microstructure, surface functional groups, and electron group hybridization. Meanwhile, the current challenges are summarized according to the characteristics of water-adsorbing MOFs, and the future development of MOFs are prospected. It is expected to provide a valuable reference for the research direction of the application of MOFs in water sorption.