Review · secondary evidenceReview

Conductive MOFs based on Thiol-functionalized Linkers: Challenges, Opportunities, and Recent Advances

Xiangling Deng, Sai-Li Zheng, Yuan-Hui Zhong, Jieying Hu, Lai-Hon Chung, Jun He · Coordination Chemistry Reviews · 2022

This dossier represents secondary evidence: section summaries, claims and benchmarks are paraphrased for this database, not quoted. Check quantitative values against the linked primary study, and cite the review itself (10.1016/j.ccr.2021.214235) for its arguments.

5review sections
7material families
17review claims
21secondary benchmarks
37cited studies
6research gaps

Review scope

To review sulfur-functionalized ligands and thiol-MOFs, from thiol-linker design and synthesis through MOF growth strategies and applications, with emphasis on conductive or semiconductive metal-sulfur frameworks.

Coverage
2000–2021
Category
Review Transport Physics
Material scope
thiol-functionalized linkers · thiol-decorated MOFs · metal-dithiolene MOFs · carboxyl-thiol bifunctional linker MOFs · 2D conductive metal-sulfur frameworks · organic metal chalcogenide analogues
Transport scope
electrical conductivity · charge delocalization through metal-sulfur and pi-conjugated networks · semiconductor-to-metal transitions · redox and oxidation-state modulation of conductivity · proton conductivity after thiol oxidation
Application scope
electrocatalysis · gas sensing and adsorption · perovskite solar cells · photocatalysis · mercury capture · energy conversion
Explicit exclusions
primary extraction of full synthetic recipes · exhaustive transcription of all 271 references · primary-data leaderboard use of review-reported values
Source
1-4 · Abstract and Introduction
Evidence role
Context, taxonomy and secondary benchmarking

Section map

The review’s argument is preserved as a navigable set of section summaries.

4. Applications of Thiol-MOFs

24-31

Surveys conductivity, electrocatalysis, adsorption/separation and miscellaneous device uses, including secondary benchmarks for conductive and catalytic metal-sulfur frameworks.

Relevance: Core · 24 · 4. Applications of Thiol-MOFs

1. Introduction (Challenges and Opportunities)

3-4

Frames low MOF conductivity as a historical limitation and defines thiol-functionalized linkers as a route to conductive MOFs while identifying synthesis, crystallinity and stability barriers.

Relevance: Core · 3 · 1. Introduction (Challenges and Opportunities)

2. Synthetic strategies for thiol ligands

4-13

Classifies thiol aromatic ligands into direct dithiolene, masked/protected forms and multifunctional thiol-carboxyl linkers; Table 1 links representative ligands to MOFs.

Relevance: Core · 4 · 2. Synthetic strategies for thiol ligands · Table 1

3. Synthetic strategy of thiol-MOFs

13-24

Organises thiol-MOF assembly by hard/soft coordination matching, interfacial routes, solvothermal masked or modulated synthesis, and post-synthetic modification.

Relevance: Core · 13 · 3. Synthetic strategy of thiol-MOFs

5. Concluding remarks and perspectives

31-32

Summarises progress and open issues: difficult crystallisation, need for structural determination, stability/performance concerns and opportunities for perthiolated carboxylate linkers.

Relevance: Core · 31 · 5. Concluding remarks and perspectives

Taxonomies

Classification systems are attributed to this review and are not treated as a global material registry.

Functional DeploymentAuthor-proposed

Application modes of thiol-MOFs

Section 4 divides uses into conductive behaviour, electrocatalysis, gas adsorption/separation and miscellaneous device/catalyst roles.

Categories: conductivity · hydrogen evolution · ORR/OER · CO2 reduction · nitrogen reduction · adsorption and separation · perovskite solar cells and photocatalysis

24 · 4. Applications of Thiol-MOFs

Practical BottleneckAuthor-proposed

Barriers to thiol-MOF exploration

The review repeatedly frames the field around these three barriers, explaining why thiol-MOF examples remain fewer than amine/hydroxyl analogues.

Categories: demanding linker synthesis and storage · poor MOF crystallinity · difficult characterisation of unstable MOFs

3 · 1. Introduction (Challenges and Opportunities)

Metal-Node And Donor HardnessAuthor-proposed

HSAB-based coordination matching

The review uses HSAB reasoning to rationalise which metals bind thiolate versus carboxylate and why carboxyl-thiol linkers can enable diverse coordination modes.

Categories: soft metal ions with thiolates/dithiolene donors · hard metal ions with carboxylates · borderline metals allowing carboxyl/thiol co-coordination

13 · 3. Synthetic strategy of thiol-MOFs

Ligand Design And Protection StateAuthor-proposed

Thiol aromatic ligand forms

Section 2 uses this three-part organisation to relate direct ligands, protected latent thiols and multifunctional linkers to MOF construction.

Categories: thiol aromatic ligand · masked form of thiol aromatic ligand · thiol multifunctional aromatic ligand

4 · 2. Synthetic strategies for thiol ligands

Framework Assembly RouteAuthor-proposed

Thiol-MOF growth methods

The review distinguishes interfacial confinement routes for films/nanosheets from solvothermal, masked, modulated and post-synthetic approaches for crystallinity and functionalisation.

Categories: liquid/liquid interfacial synthesis · gas/liquid interfacial synthesis · Langmuir-Blodgett assembly · solvothermal synthesis · masked synthesis · modulated synthesis · post-synthetic method

16 · 3.1. Interfacial synthesis

Metal-Linker ChemistryAuthor-proposed

Two broad thiol-MOF construction classes

The review separates thiol-MOFs into pi-conjugated/redox-active dithiolene frameworks and robust carboxyl-thiol frameworks where thiols can remain free-standing or coordinate.

Categories: soft-metal dithiolene frameworks · hard-metal carboxyl-thiol frameworks

1 · Abstract

Material families

Review-defined families retain their representative materials and conduction descriptions.

BHT/HBT metal-bis(dithiolene) frameworks

Primarily 2D Films, Nanosheets Or Layered Frameworks

Planar metal-sulfur frameworks based on benzenehexathiol/benzenehexathiolate motifs, often forming honeycomb or dense 2D networks.

Conduction: High pi/d conjugation and metal-sulfur covalency support delocalised charge transport; review highlights very high conductivities for Cu and Ag examples.

Representative materials: Cu-BHT/HBT-Cu · [Ag5(C6S6)]n · Ag3BHT2 · CoBHT · NiBHT

Nodes / linkers: Cu · Ag · Co · Ni · Fe · Pd · Pt · BHT · benzenehexathiolate · dithiolene

5 · Table 1 · Table 1

Borderline/soft-metal carboxyl-sulfur frameworks

2D Or 3D Frameworks With Metal-Sulfur Chains Or Mixed O/S Coordination

Carboxyl-sulfur linkers whose thiol groups coordinate softer or lower-valent metals, producing metal-sulfur chains or mixed O/S coordination.

Conduction: Review links metal-sulfur chain formation and redox-active ligands to improved charge transfer and semiconducting behaviour.

Representative materials: Fe(DSBDC)2 · Mn(DSBDC)2 · Eu-dfdmt · Cu6(DMBD)3(en)4(Hen)6 · Pb2(DMBD)(en)2

Nodes / linkers: Fe(II) · Mn(II) · Eu(II/III) · Cu(I/II) · Pb(II) · DSBDC/DMBD · dfdmt

15 · 3. Synthetic strategy of thiol-MOFs

Organic metal chalcogenides (OMCs)

2D Exfoliable Layered Materials

2D conducting or semiconducting organic-inorganic chalcogenide materials prepared by organic modification then exfoliation, adjacent to conventional conductive MOFs.

Conduction: Review reports tunable semiconducting band gaps and conductivities up to 0.2 S cm-1.

Representative materials: M(XPh-Y) · Pb-benzenedithiol OMC

Nodes / linkers: Cu(I) · Ag(I) · Au(I) · Pb(II) · functionalized benzenethiolate/benzeneselenolate · 1,4-benzenedithiol

26 · 4.1. Conductivity

Small dithiolate building-block frameworks

1D, 2D Or 3D Depending On Metal Precursor And Solvent/Counterion

MOFs assembled from pdt, bdt, btdt or substituted benzenedithiolates, often through anionic metal-bis(dithiolene) complexes coupled to additional cations.

Conduction: Review treats Cu[Cu(pdt)2] as an early conductive MOF and M-BT as electrocatalytic dithiolene coordination polymers.

Representative materials: Cu[Cu(pdt)2] · NKMOF-1-Ni · Au(btdt)2 salts · FeBT · NiBT

Nodes / linkers: Cu · Ni · Au · Fe · Co · Zn · pdt · bdt · btdt · BT

14 · 3. Synthetic strategy of thiol-MOFs

Perthiolated coronene frameworks

2D Pi-D Conjugated Framework

Sulfur-rich coronene-derived dithiolene frameworks based on PTC/PSC chemistry.

Conduction: Review describes PTC-Fe as semiconducting and ferromagnetic, with reported room-temperature conductivity.

Representative materials: PTC-Fe · PSC · PTC

Nodes / linkers: Fe · PTC · perthiolated coronene

11 · 2.2. The masked form of thiol aromatic ligands

Triphenylene dithiolene frameworks

2D Monolayers/Multilayers And 3D Gyroidal Single-Crystal Network

Frameworks using THT/HTT triphenylene hexathiol cores, including monolayer Ni-THT and gyroidal HTT-Pb formed from masked linkers.

Conduction: The triphenylene core supports pi-conjugation; review links THT-Co/THT-Fe to semiconductor-metal transitions and HTT-Pb to humidity-sensitive electronic current.

Representative materials: Ni-THT · CoTHT · FeTHT · HTT-Pb · HTT-Pt

Nodes / linkers: Ni · Co · Fe · Pb · Pt · THT · HTT · HBuTT · HVaTT

7 · 2.1. The thiol aromatic ligands · Table 1

Zr carboxyl-thiol MOFs

3D UiO-Type, Cubic, Kgd And 2D/3,6-Connected Frameworks

Robust Zr-oxo frameworks constructed from carboxyl-thiol linkers, where hard Zr(IV) coordinates carboxylates while thiols often remain accessible in pores.

Conduction: Generally not framed as highest electronic conductors; thiol arrays enable post-synthetic metalation, Hg binding, proton-conducting sulfonate conversion and device interfaces.

Representative materials: Zr-DMBD · ZrDMTD · ZrOMTP · ZrTTA-6SH · ZrL3

Nodes / linkers: Zr(IV) · H4DMBD · H2DMTD · H4OMTP · H3TTA-6SH · H3L3

15 · 3. Synthetic strategy of thiol-MOFs

Synthesis strategies

Review-level synthesis principles remain separate from primary-study recipes.

Carboxyl-thiol co-functional linker synthesis

Design aromatic linkers bearing both carboxylate and thiol groups so hard metal nodes can build robust frameworks while thiols remain active or participate in coordination.

Claimed effects: Combines crystallinity from carboxylate MOF chemistry with sulfur functionality for transport, catalysis, adsorption or post-synthetic modification.

Controlling variables: ester protection · sulfur-source substitution · debenzylation/deprotection route · linker geometry

Representative materials: H4DMBD · H4OMTP · H2DMBPD · H4dfdmt

Caveat: Compatibility between thiol deprotection and ester/carboxyl functionality remains difficult.

11 · 2.3. The thiol multifunctional aromatic ligands

Direct dithiolene ligand synthesis and use

Prepare reactive aromatic polythiols/dithiolene linkers and coordinate them directly to soft metals to form metal-dithiolene frameworks.

Claimed effects: Direct routes access highly conjugated frameworks but suffer from sensitivity, odour and fast precipitation that reduce crystallinity.

Controlling variables: thiol oxidation sensitivity · inert atmosphere · halogen substitution pattern · metal softness and reduction potential

Representative materials: BHT · THT · PTC · Ni-BHT · Cu-BHT

Caveat: The review discourages recipe-level generalisation because each thiol ligand has divergent reactivity.

7 · 2.1. The thiol aromatic ligands

Gas/liquid and Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer synthesis

Assemble monolayer or multilayer 2D metal-dithiolene sheets at air/water or Langmuir-Blodgett interfaces.

Claimed effects: Enables monolayer or controllable multilayer films with molecular-level structure control.

Controlling variables: surface pressure · monomer distribution · metal-ion diffusion · layer transfer repetitions

Representative materials: BHT-Ni · Ni-THT · ATT-Co

Caveat: Large surface energy and monolayer handling remain practical challenges.

19 · 3.1.2. Gas/liquid interface synthesis

Liquid/liquid interfacial synthesis

Use immiscible metal-salt and linker phases to confine assembly at a liquid interface, producing films, nanosheets or morphology-controlled products.

Claimed effects: Provides a 2D matrix that restricts growth and can yield crystalline stacked nanosheets or films.

Controlling variables: phase choice · precursor concentration · counterions · molecular orientation at interface

Representative materials: BT-Ni · Cu-BHT · Ag-BHT · PtDT

Caveat: Film quality can collapse when concentration is too high, while low concentration can make films invisible.

16 · 3.1.1. Liquid/liquid interfacial synthesis

Masked/protected thiol linker strategy

Block thiol groups as thioethers, thioesters, tin complexes or other protected forms, then reveal thiolates during MOF assembly.

Claimed effects: Reduces ligand reactivity, improves storage/manipulation and can slow MOF growth enough to improve crystallinity.

Controlling variables: protecting group stability · in-situ deprotection rate · base or Lewis acid conditions · metal redox compatibility

Representative materials: HBuTT · HVaTT · SnBHT · HTT-Pb · PtDT

Caveat: Deprotection chemistry must be compatible with other functional groups and redox-sensitive metals.

7 · 2. Synthetic strategies for thiol ligands

Modulated synthesis of Zr-MOF-SH frameworks

Use acidic or other modulators to slow nucleation/crystal growth in Zr and other carboxylate/thiol MOFs.

Claimed effects: Can improve crystallinity and yield larger or single-crystal thiol-functional frameworks.

Controlling variables: modulator identity · modulator amount · metal centre hardness · deprotonation rate

Representative materials: Zr-DMBD · Zr-DMBPD · Zr-DMTD

Caveat: Regulator choice depends strongly on metal centre; acidic modulators are not universal.

22 · 3.2.2. Modulated synthesis

Morphology control for films, crystals and nanoparticles

Adjust method and reaction conditions to produce films, microcrystals or nanoparticles from similar metal-sulfur precursor sets.

Claimed effects: Morphology affects application performance, especially electrocatalysis where exposed active edges and mass transport matter.

Controlling variables: synthetic route · addition rate · stirring · substrate/interface · precursor concentration

Representative materials: Cu-BHT film · Cu-BHT microcrystals · Cu-BHT nanoparticles

Caveat: High conductivity alone does not guarantee catalytic performance when surface area or porosity is limited.

17 · 3.1.1. Liquid/liquid interfacial synthesis

Post-synthetic exchange and metalation

Modify robust MOFs after synthesis by linker exchange, thiol metalation, iodination, oxidation to sulfonates or installation of catalytic sites.

Claimed effects: Provides access to functional thiol-MOFs that may not survive direct synthesis, while retaining topology and porosity.

Controlling variables: framework stability · exchange temperature · thiol spacing · metal-thiol bond strength

Representative materials: UiO-66-TCAT · Zr-DMTD-Pd · Zr-DMBD-Co · Zr-DMBD-SO3H

Caveat: Requires stable parent frameworks and careful suppression of thiol side reactions such as poisoning or disproportionation.

23 · 3.2.3. Post-synthetic method

Masked solvothermal synthesis for single crystals

Use protected dithiolene ligands under solvothermal conditions to slow thiolate formation and allow structural ordering.

Claimed effects: Review identifies this as the route to single-crystalline HTT-Pb, improving crystallinity relative to direct thiol ligation.

Controlling variables: masked ligand rigidity · alkaline deprotection · metal-node fit · growth rate

Representative materials: HTT-Pb

Caveat: HTT-Pb is presented as exceptional rather than broadly general.

21 · 3.2.1. Masked synthesis

Review claims

These are the review authors’ synthesis, not newly measured results.

DescriptiveMedium supportApplication Relevance

Coordinatively unsaturated metal-bis(dithiolene) planes are presented as gas-sensing/adsorption sites whose electronic response can be modulated by CO, NO or O2 adsorption.

Evidence basis: multi_reference

Caveat: Much of this section is based on first-principles calculation rather than device measurements.

29 · 4.3. Adsorption and separation

Author InterpretationHigh supportMeasurement Interpretation

For metastable metal-dithiolene frameworks, intrinsic transport measurements should be performed in vacuum or inert atmosphere because air exposure can oxidise metal centres and ligands.

Evidence basis: multi_reference

Caveat: The review gives examples but not a universal protocol for every framework.

4 · 1. Introduction (Challenges and Opportunities)

Author InterpretationHigh supportTransport Mechanism

The review interprets conductivity in 2D metal-dithiolene frameworks as sensitive to oxidation state and doping, with reduction or oxidation changing conductivity by orders of magnitude.

Evidence basis: multi_reference

Caveat: Different materials and dopants should not be directly compared without primary-method details.

25 · 4.1. Conductivity

Author InterpretationHigh supportStructure Property Link

Dithiolene linkers confer rigidity, pi-conjugation and redox activity, which can modulate electronic properties in metal-dithiolene MOFs.

Evidence basis: multi_reference

Caveat: Structural disorder and film morphology can dominate macroscopic transport.

7 · 2.1. The thiol aromatic ligands

Author InterpretationHigh supportCaveat

Applications of metal-sulfur MOFs are still at an initial stage, with several areas relying heavily on theoretical studies.

Evidence basis: review_reasoning

Caveat: The field has likely advanced after the review's 2021 literature window, but no network update was permitted.

32 · 5. Concluding remarks and perspectives

Consensus SummaryHigh supportSynthesis Strategy

Interfacial synthesis confines growth in two dimensions and is presented as a key route to crystalline large-area 2D metal-sulfur films or monolayers.

Evidence basis: multi_reference

Caveat: Surface energy, interface composition and concentration strongly affect film quality.

16 · 3.1. Interfacial synthesis

Consensus SummaryHigh supportHistorical Development

MOFs historically lagged in electrochemical and electronic-device uses because many frameworks lacked adequate electrical conductivity.

Evidence basis: multi_reference

Caveat: The review states this broadly; primary support should come from cited conductive-MOF literature.

3 · 1. Introduction (Challenges and Opportunities)

Author InterpretationHigh supportSynthesis Strategy

Masked thiol ligands can reduce thiol reactivity and enable higher-crystallinity MOFs, including single-crystal HTT-Pb.

Evidence basis: single_reference

Caveat: The review presents HTT-Pb as a notable success rather than a universal outcome.

7 · 2. Synthetic strategies for thiol ligands

Consensus SummaryMedium supportMaterial Comparison

For M-BHT and M-BT electrocatalysis, the review emphasises metal identity as a determinant of HER activity and active-site electronic structure.

Evidence basis: multi_reference

Caveat: The review mixes experimental and theoretical evidence; primary comparisons should be normalised before quantitative use.

28 · 4.2.1. Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)

Author InterpretationMedium supportMaterial Comparison

The review treats organic metal chalcogenides as an adjacent 2D conductive material class that broadens design space for tunable band gaps and conductivity.

Evidence basis: multi_reference

Caveat: OMCs are adjacent to, rather than identical with, conventional porous MOFs.

26 · 4.1. Conductivity

Author InterpretationMedium supportApplication Relevance

High conductivity alone is insufficient for HER: porosity and exposed active sites affect substrate/product transfer, explaining why Cu-BHT nanoparticles can outperform dense films catalytically.

Evidence basis: single_reference

Caveat: Catalytic rankings depend on morphology and electrochemical test conditions.

28 · 4.2.1. Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)

Consensus SummaryHigh supportSynthesis Strategy

Post-synthetic modification of thiol-functional MOFs can convert accessible thiols into catalytic, adsorption or proton-conducting functions while retaining robust frameworks.

Evidence basis: multi_reference

Caveat: Requires stable parent frameworks, usually UiO/Zr-type, and careful control of thiol reactivity.

24 · 3.2.3. Post-synthetic method

Author InterpretationHigh supportCaveat

For many dithiolate MOFs, structure-performance relationships are hindered because single-crystal structures are difficult and structure determination often relies on simulation.

Evidence basis: review_reasoning

Caveat: The caveat does not apply equally to carboxyl-thiol frameworks with single-crystal structures.

31 · 5. Concluding remarks and perspectives

Author InterpretationHigh supportTransport Mechanism

Thiol and metal-sulfur motifs are interpreted as promoting orbital overlap and charge delocalisation through covalent, polarizable metal-sulfur links.

Evidence basis: multi_reference

Caveat: Mechanistic strength depends on the specific framework and measurement conditions.

3 · 1. Introduction (Challenges and Opportunities)

Author InterpretationMedium supportTransport Mechanism

THT-Co and THT-Fe are presented as examples where temperature-dependent semiconductor-to-metal transitions relate to doping, film thickness and charge delocalisation.

Evidence basis: multi_reference

Caveat: The review reports interpretation at a high level; detailed transport mechanism requires the primary studies.

25 · 4.1. Conductivity

Author InterpretationHigh supportStructure Property Link

Carboxyl-thiol bifunctional linkers balance crystallinity, stability and sulfur functionality because carboxylates build robust hard-metal frameworks while thiols remain accessible or coordinate selectively.

Evidence basis: multi_reference

Caveat: Electronic transport is not necessarily high unless sulfur participates in charge-transfer pathways.

31 · 5. Concluding remarks and perspectives

DescriptiveHigh supportDefinition Scope

The review's core organising split is between soft-metal dithiolene frameworks and hard-metal carboxyl-thiol frameworks.

Evidence basis: review_reasoning

Caveat: This is a secondary taxonomy, not a strict chemical boundary for every sulfur-containing MOF.

1 · Abstract

Secondary benchmarks

Every row remains visibly secondary and links to a primary dossier only where the mapping is verified.

MaterialPropertyReported valueContext and qualityPrimary evidenceReview source
SecondaryAg3BHT2 thin filmelectrical conductivityup to 363 S cm^-1thin film
Text · Exact Reported
research_009625 · 4.1. Conductivity
Secondarypolycrystalline [Ag5(C6S6)]n filmelectrical conductivity250 S cm^-1polycrystalline film
Text · Exact Reported
research_073525 · 4.1. Conductivity
SecondaryBHT-Ni monolayer nanosheetsAFM thickness~0.6 nmAFM measurements after gas/liquid interfacial synthesis
Text · Approximate
No verified corpus mapping20 · 3.1.2. Gas/liquid interface synthesis
SecondaryCo-BHT filmHER overpotential0.34 V at 10 mA cm^-2, pH 1.3current density 10 mA cm-2; pH 1.3
Text · Exact Reported
No verified corpus mapping28 · 4.2.1. Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)
SecondaryCo-THT filmHER overpotential0.53 V at 10 mA cm^-2, pH 1.3current density 10 mA cm-2; pH 1.3
Text · Exact Reported
No verified corpus mapping28 · 4.2.1. Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)
Secondary{[Cu2(6-Hmna)(6-mn)]·NH4}nelectrical conductivity10.96 S cm^-1single-crystal MOF with (-M-S-)n chains
Text · Exact Reported
research_010425 · 4.1. Conductivity
SecondaryCu[Cu(pdt)2]electrical conductivity6 x 10^-4 S cm^-1microporous pdt2- Cu MOF
Text · Exact Reported
research_020125 · 4.1. Conductivity
SecondaryEu-dfdmtelectrical conductivity10^-6 S m^-1review text; extensive Eu2+-S bridges
Text · Exact Reported
No verified corpus mapping25 · 4.1. Conductivity
SecondaryHBT-Cu / Cu-BHTelectrical conductivity1580 S cm^-1Figure 23a; review says highest MOF conductivity to date
Text · Exact Reported
research_000625 · 4.1. Conductivity
SecondaryHBT-Ni / Ni-BHT oxidizedelectrical conductivity1.6 x 10^2 S cm^-1after oxidation by tris(4-bromophenyl)aminiumhexachloro-antimonate
Text · Exact Reported
research_036125 · 4.1. Conductivity
SecondaryHBT-Ni / Ni-BHT reduced by NaTCNQelectrical conductivity6.7 x 10^-3 S cm^-1after reduction by NaTCNQ
Text · Exact Reported
No verified corpus mapping25 · 4.1. Conductivity
SecondaryHBT-Ni / Ni-BHTelectrical conductivity0.15 S cm^-1 at 298 K298 K
Text · Exact Reported
No verified corpus mapping25 · 4.1. Conductivity
SecondaryNi-dithiolene coordination polymer / NiBTHER overpotential470 mV at pH 1.3 and 10 mA cm^-2pH 1.3; current density 10 mA cm-2
Text · Exact Reported
No verified corpus mapping28 · 4.2.1. Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)
SecondaryNi-THT monolayer filmmonolayer thickness~0.7 nmLB method; Fig. 19c AFM height image
Text · Approximate
No verified corpus mapping21 · 3.1.2. Gas/liquid interface synthesis
SecondaryM(XPh-Y) organic metal chalcogenidesband gap range2.51-3.34 eV2D OMC family with varied metal/chalcogen/substituent
Text · Range
No verified corpus mapping26 · 4.1. Conductivity
SecondaryM(XPh-Y) organic metal chalcogenidesmaximum conductivityas highest as 0.2 S cm^-12D OMC family reported by Xu and co-workers
Text · Exact Reported
No verified corpus mapping26 · 4.1. Conductivity
SecondaryPb2+ 1,4-benzenedithiol OMC derivativeband gap1.54 eVsemiconducting Pb2+ derivative used for NO2 chemiresistive sensing
Text · Exact Reported
No verified corpus mapping26 · 4.1. Conductivity
SecondaryPTC-Feelectrical conductivity10 S cm^-1 at 300 K300 K; four-point-probe van der Pauw measurements per review
Text · Exact Reported
research_004525 · 4.1. Conductivity
SecondaryPtDT after I2 oxidationelectrical conductivity0.39 S cm^-1 after a 10^6-fold leapafter oxidation by I2
Text · Exact Reported
No verified corpus mapping25 · 4.1. Conductivity
SecondaryZrDMBDHg(II) concentration after removalless than 0.01 ppm after removalwater; selective Hg(II) removal by free-standing -SH groups
Text · Approximate
No verified corpus mapping30 · 4.4. Miscellaneous
SecondaryZr-DMBD-SO3Hproton conductivity0.084 S cm^-1 at 80 C and 90% RH80 C; 90% relative humidity; after H2O2 oxidation of thiol to sulfonate
Text · Exact Reported
No verified corpus mapping24 · 3.2.3. Post-synthetic method

Research gaps

Open questions are presented as review-author priorities, not conclusions from the primary database.

Crystallinity and morphology control

High

The field needs better control over crystallinity, topology and particle size during metal-sulfur framework growth.

Proposed direction: Tune reactant properties, concentration/proportioning, temperature, pH, solvents, modulators and interfacial conditions.

31 · 5. Concluding remarks and perspectives

Next-generation linker design

Medium

The authors anticipate perthiolated carboxylate bifunctional linkers as an underdeveloped route to stable, processable, multifunctional thiol-MOFs.

Proposed direction: Explore perthiolated carboxylate linkers that combine abundant thiol side groups with robust carboxylate coordination.

31 · 5. Concluding remarks and perspectives · Fig. 31

Stability and performance

High

Stability and performance are presented as critical concerns for follow-up applications in conduction, catalysis and sensing.

Proposed direction: Design more stable sulfur-functionalized linkers and frameworks suitable for processing, fabrication and long-term operation.

31 · 5. Concluding remarks and perspectives

Structure-performance relationships

High

Lack of absolute structural determination for many dithiolate MOFs hinders evaluation of structure-performance relationships.

Proposed direction: Prioritise single-crystal, high-resolution or otherwise auditable structures before performance optimisation.

31 · 5. Concluding remarks and perspectives

Theory-heavy applications

Medium

Some application areas, including lithium-sulfur batteries, NRR catalysis and gas separation, remain at an initial or theoretical-study stage.

Proposed direction: Translate theoretical predictions into experimentally characterised conductive metal-sulfur MOFs.

32 · 5. Concluding remarks and perspectives

Thiol linker synthesis and handling

High

Air/light sensitivity, foul odour and divergent thiol reactivity make ligand synthesis, storage and manipulation difficult.

Proposed direction: Develop tailored, milder and more general linker synthesis/protection protocols.

31 · 5. Concluding remarks and perspectives

Cited-study map

Mappings show which printed review references have a verified counterpart in the frozen primary corpus.

Show 37 cited-study records
ReferenceStudyRole and contextCorpus mapping
Ref. 222017Title unavailabletransport_benchmarkReview cites this work for temperature-dependent charge transport and semiconductor-to-metal behaviour in THT-Co.Unmapped
Ref. 262018Title unavailabletransport_benchmarkReview cites this Langmuir study for Ag3BHT2 thin-film conductivity and Ag-BHT structure comparison.research_0096
Ref. 342009Title unavailabletransport_benchmarkReview cites this 2009 conductive porous pyrazine-dithiol MOF as an early conductive 2D MOF benchmark.research_0201
Ref. 382013Title unavailablematerial_familyReview cites Dinca and co-workers for carboxyl-sulfur linker MOFs containing metal-sulfur chains.research_0011
Ref. 462013Title unavailabletransport_benchmarkReview cites Nishihara and co-workers for monolayer Ni-BHT and its conductivity/oxidation-state dependence.Unmapped
Ref. 492018Title unavailabletransport_benchmarkReview cites PTC-Fe as a semiconducting and ferromagnetic 2D MOF with reported conductivity at 300 K.research_0045
Ref. 502019Title unavailablesynthesis_strategyReview cites SnBHT-enabled PtDT nanosheets and oxidation-linked conductivity change.Unmapped
Ref. 652017Title unavailablesynthesis_strategyReview cites HTT-Pb as a masked-linker route to a single-crystal metal-dithiolene framework.Unmapped
Ref. 752013Title unavailablematerial_familyReview cites Zr-DMBD as a carboxyl-thiol framework with accessible thiol groups and Hg removal context.Unmapped
Ref. 762015Title unavailablematerial_familyReview cites ZrDMTD for thiol-carboxylate Zr-MOF structure and post-synthetic Pd catalysis.Unmapped
Ref. 772018Title unavailablesynthesis_strategyReview cites H4OMTP/ZrOMTP as an example of designed carboxyl-thiol linker synthesis and topology.Unmapped
Ref. 782019Title unavailablematerial_familyReview cites Zr-DMBPD/UiO-67-(SH)2 as an isomorphic carboxyl-thiol Zr-MOF example.Unmapped
Ref. 802020Title unavailableapplication_relevanceReview cites ZrTTA-6SH for post-synthetic metalloporphyrin functionalisation and photocatalytic hydrogen production.Unmapped
Ref. 822009Title unavailablematerial_familyReview cites DMBD frameworks to illustrate multiple coordination modes of carboxyl-thiol linkers.Unmapped
Ref. 832020Title unavailabletransport_benchmarkReview cites Eu-dfdmt as a black semiconducting framework with Eu-S bridges and modest conductivity.Unmapped
Ref. 842015Title unavailablematerial_familyReview cites Fe(DSBDC)2 as a MOF-74 analogue with metal-sulfur chains and charge-transport relevance.research_0063
Ref. 882017Title unavailablesynthesis_strategyReview cites Cu-BHT films, microcrystals and nanoparticles, including morphology effects for catalysis.Unmapped
Ref. 892019Title unavailabletransport_benchmarkReview cites THT-Fe air oxidation and semiconductor-to-metal transport behaviour.Unmapped
Ref. 922014Title unavailabletransport_benchmarkReview cites oxidised Ni-BHT/HBT-Ni for enhanced conductivity and van der Pauw measurement context.research_0361
Ref. 932018Title unavailabletransport_benchmarkReview cites Ag-BHT films for high conductivity and liquid-liquid interfacial synthesis.research_0735
Ref. 952015Title unavailableelectrocatalysisReview cites Co-BHT/Co-THT films and HER overpotential benchmarks.Unmapped
Ref. 982015Title unavailabletransport_benchmarkReview cites HBT-Cu/Cu-BHT as the highest conductivity MOF benchmark in the review.research_0006
Ref. 1052015Title unavailablesynthesis_strategyReview cites large monolayer Ni-THT films prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett method.Unmapped
Ref. 1102018Title unavailableelectrocatalysisReview cites M-BHT HER activity order and film-thickness dependence.Unmapped
Ref. 1132017Title unavailableelectrocatalysisReview cites Co dithiolene-diamine complexes for HER rationale and stability comparison.Unmapped
Ref. 1172018Title unavailableadsorption_separationReview cites Cu[Ni(pdt)2] for strong C2H2 binding and selectivity context.Unmapped
Ref. 1302016Title unavailableelectrocatalysisReview cites M-BT electrocatalytic activity and Ni-dithiolene HER overpotential.Unmapped
Ref. 1322014Title unavailablesynthesis_strategyReview cites liquid-liquid interfacial synthesis of BT-Ni nanosheets.Unmapped
Ref. 1422020Title unavailabledevice_contextReview cites thiol-carboxyl ZrL3 for perovskite solar-cell interlayer/device context.Unmapped
Ref. 1692018Title unavailableapplication_relevanceReview cites thiol-functional Zr-DMBD for mercury removal and proton-exchange capture mechanism.Unmapped
Ref. 1702015Title unavailablepost_synthetic_modificationReview cites post-synthetic exchange and metalation of thiol-functional Zr-MOFs.Unmapped
Ref. 1902015Title unavailableapplication_relevanceReview cites Zr-DMBD Hg anchoring and oxidised sulfonate/proton-conducting derivative.Unmapped
Ref. 2132019Title unavailabletransport_benchmarkReview cites an infinite metal-sulfur chain MOF with high single-crystal conductivity.research_0104
Ref. 2172010Title unavailableproton_transportReview cites the oxidised thiol-to-sulfonate material for proton conductivity after H2O2 oxidation.Unmapped
Ref. 2322020Title unavailabletransport_benchmarkReview cites organic metal chalcogenides made by modification-then-exfoliation as tunable semiconducting 2D OMCs.Unmapped
Ref. 236202110.1002/anie.20210718510.1002/anie.202107185sensor_contextReview cites a Pb2+ OMC derivative with 1.54 eV band gap and NO2 sensing.Unmapped
Ref. 2602020Title unavailabletheory_contextReview cites MC4S4 volcano analysis for theoretical NRR activity context.Unmapped