Wei Guo, Ning Han, Shuo Wang, Zhenyu Zhou, Hui Pan, Wei Zhang, Xuan Zhang and Jan Fransaer from KU Leuven and collaborating institutions have published a new review on anodic deposition of metal-organic framework (MOF) films in Coordination Chemistry Reviews (Vol. 544, December 2025).
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are increasingly critical for technologies requiring high surface area, precise porosity, and functional tunability—from gas separation membranes to energy storage devices. In this comprehensive review, the authors explore anodic deposition as a scalable, low-temperature route for fabricating uniform, high-performance MOF thin films directly on conductive substrates. This method avoids binder-related issues and enables real-time monitoring, patterning, and integration in advanced device architectures.
Key insights include:
-
A detailed analysis of the nucleation, crystallization, and growth mechanisms in anodic deposition;
-
A comparison of fabrication routes and the advantages of electrochemical methods, especially for large-area or patterned film formation;
-
A critical overview of applications in sensing, catalysis, batteries, and separation, where binder-free MOF films show superior adhesion, porosity, and electrical contact;
-
A forward-looking perspective on scaling challenges and technological opportunities, including in situ thermal conversion to metal oxides or carbon frameworks.
Reference:
Wei Guo, Ning Han, Shuo Wang, Zhenyu Zhou, Hui Pan, Wei Zhang, Xuan Zhang, Jan Fransaer, Anodic deposition of metal-organic framework films: From fundamentals to applications, Coordination Chemistry Reviews, Vol. 544, December 2025, 216955. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccr.2025.216955
Acknowledgements:
This work was supported by KU Leuven and partners at Zhejiang University and Fuzhou University. The authors acknowledge the funding bodies listed in the original article.
