2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. This chapter describes a new class of porous materials, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These materials are built up from metal ions or metal ion clusters coordinated to multidentate organic linkers. After a brief introduction of the chemical composition and architecture of the networks, the key factors influencing them and different synthetic methods are discussed in detail. Additionally, a series of short reviews concerning the most promising applications, including gas storage, separation, catalysis, magnetism, optics, sensor, and drug delivery, are discussed. It is believed that MOFs provide extraordinary advantages over traditional porous materials, based on their chemical diversity, which we anticipate will have an important and permanent impact on the future of porous materials.
