Shuhui Tao, John Wang, and Jie Zhang · ACS Nano · 2025
Review electron-conduction mechanisms, conductivity-improvement strategies, electrocatalysis applications, and computational understanding for electrically conductive metal-organic frameworks.
The review’s argument is preserved as a navigable set of section summaries.
Summarises DFT, MD and machine learning as tools for mechanism interpretation, stability/growth understanding and conductive-MOF discovery.
Relevance: Core · p017 / 9500 · 5. Deep Understanding of Conductive MOFs
Connects conductivity, active-site exposure, electronic-structure engineering and morphology engineering to HER, OER, ORR, CO2RR and NRR performance examples.
Relevance: Supporting · p011 / 9494 · 4. Conductive MOFs for Electrocatalysis
Frames MOFs as porous, tunable materials that are usually insulating, motivating EC-MOFs for energy and electrocatalysis applications.
Relevance: Core · p001 / 9484 · 1. Introduction
Defines conductivity in terms of carrier concentration and mobility, then organises EC-MOF transport into band/hopping, through-bond/through-space, redox-hopping and guest-promoted pathways.
Relevance: Core · p002 / 9485 · 2. Mechanism of Electron Conduction
Lists limitations in 2D EC-MOF fabrication, structure-performance clarity, measurement standardisation, scale-up, sustainable synthesis and mechanistic characterisation.
Relevance: Core · p021 / 9504 · 6. Prospects and Challenges
Reviews ligand modulation, conducting materials, conductive substrates, films, 3D architectures and 2D/1D matrix designs as conductivity-improvement routes.
Relevance: Core · p004 / 9487 · 3. Strategies to Improve the Conductivity of MOFs
Classification systems are attributed to this review and are not treated as a global material registry.
The review distinguishes physical models of conductivity from chemically described charge pathways.
Categories: band theory · hopping theory · through-space · through-bond
p002 / 9485 · 2. Mechanism of Electron Conduction
The final technical section distinguishes quantum-mechanical mechanism calculations, molecular/growth simulations and data-driven screening.
Categories: DFT calculations · molecular dynamics simulations · machine learning
p017 / 9500 · 5. Deep Understanding of Conductive MOFs
The article structures the conductivity-improvement section around three broad routes.
Categories: ligand modification · incorporating conducting materials · multidimensional architectures
p002 / 9485 · 1. Introduction
The dimensional-architecture section treats films, 3D frameworks and 1D-matrix hybrids as distinct ways to improve transport and accessibility.
Categories: MOF films · MOF-based 3D architectures · 2D MOF/1D non-MOF matrices
p009 / 9492 · 3.3. Dimensional Architectures
The review application scope is organised by major electrocatalytic reactions relevant to energy conversion.
Categories: HER · OER · ORR · CO2RR · NRR
p002 / 9485 · 1. Introduction
Intrinsic materials conduct through the metal-ligand backbone; extrinsic materials conduct through guest species in the host framework.
Categories: intrinsically conductive MOFs · extrinsically conductive MOFs
p002 / 9485 · 2. Mechanism of Electron Conduction
The ligand section separates redox/conjugation design, coordination geometry and mixed-ligand compositional control.
Categories: heteroatom-containing conjugated building blocks · ligand-regulated coordination geometry · mixed-ligand synthetic strategy
p005 / 9488 · 3.1.1-3.1.3
The review devotes subsections to five common EC-MOF electron-transport pathways, with Figure 3 giving representative materials.
Categories: through-bond · extended conjugation · through-space · redox hopping · guest-promoted transport
p003 / 9486 · Figure 3 · Figure 3
Review-defined families retain their representative materials and conduction descriptions.
Three-dimensional conductive frameworks or MOFs grown on 3D conductive scaffolds.
Conduction: 3D architectures seek to combine electron transfer, mass transport and accessible sites, but true 3D EC-MOF examples remain limited.
Representative materials: FeTHQ · Zn-HAB · V-MOF48@CNTF · Co-CAT/NiFe-LDH/CNFs · CuCAT@CNFNs
Nodes / linkers: Fe · Zn · V · Co · Cu · Ni · THQ · HAB · HHTP/CAT
p010 / 9493 · 3.3.2. MOF-Based 3D Architectures
Sulfur-rich ligands such as BHT, THT and DSBDC coordinated to metal nodes.
Conduction: Soft sulfur donors and metal-sulfur chains promote orbital overlap and charge mobility.
Representative materials: Cu-BHT · Co-THT · Fe2(DSBDC) · Mn2(DSBDC)
Nodes / linkers: Cu · Co · Fe · Mn · benzenehexathiol · triphenylenehexathiol · disulfhydrylbenzene dicarboxylate
p002 / 9485 · 2.1. Through-Bond Pathway
Insulating or weakly conducting MOFs modified with conducting polymers inside pores, on surfaces, or both.
Conduction: Conducting polymers provide charge carriers and transport pathways, but may block pores or reduce accessible surface.
Representative materials: MIL-101(Cr)/PEDOT · PPy/ZIFs · Fe-MOF/PANI · Zr-MOF/PPy
Nodes / linkers: Cr · Zn · Fe · Zr · MOF host plus PEDOT/PPy/PANI guest
p007 / 9490 · 3.2.1. Conducting Polymers
Conductive frameworks built from HAB, HAHATN, HATAT/HITAT or HATBim-type nitrogen-rich ligands.
Conduction: Nitrogen content and functionality tune carrier density, LUMO levels, band gap and conductivity.
Representative materials: Ni-HAB · Ni3(Ni3-HAHATN)2 · Ni3(HITAT)2 · Ni3(HITBim)2 · Cu3(HAB)x(TATHB)2-x
Nodes / linkers: Ni · Cu · HAB · HAHATN · HATAT · HATBim · TATHB
p005 / 9488 · 3.1.1. Conjugated Building Blocks with Heteroatoms
2D pi-d conjugated frameworks built from HHTP/HITP-type triphenylene ligands and transition-metal nodes.
Conduction: Extended pi-d conjugation and layer stacking support long-range charge transport.
Representative materials: Cu3(HHTP)2 · Cu3(HITP)2 · Ni3(HITP)2 · Ni3(Ni3-HAHATN)2
Nodes / linkers: Cu · Ni · HHTP · HITP · HAHATN
p004 / 9487 · Table 1 · Table 1
Oriented EC-MOF films prepared by LBL-LPE, spray/brushing, solution shearing or electrochemical deposition.
Conduction: Film morphology reduces contact/junction artefacts and can improve anisotropic transport, but grain boundaries and thickness strongly affect values.
Representative materials: Cu3(HHTP)2-xC · Pt@Cu3(HHTP)2 · Ni3(HITP)2 thin films · Ni-THT thin film
Nodes / linkers: Cu · Ni · Pt-decorated Cu · HHTP · HITP · THT
p009 / 9492 · 3.3.1. MOF Films
2D conductive MOFs assembled on carbon, polymer, cellulose or electrospun fibre matrices.
Conduction: Interconnected fibre networks provide electron pathways, counter-stress spaces and mass-transport channels.
Representative materials: Cu-MOF@ACNF · Ni-CAT-1/PAN · Ni3(HITP)2/ACNF · CNF@c-MOF · cellulose@c-MOF
Nodes / linkers: Cu · Ni · HHTP · HITP · conductive MOF nanolayers
p010 / 9493 · 3.3.3. 2D MOF/1D Non-MOF Matrices
Frameworks containing redox-active quinone, catecholate or tetrahydroxyquinone linkers.
Conduction: Redox-active aromatic cores and metal-ligand orbital matching support electron transfer and redox hopping.
Representative materials: Fe-THQ · Cu-THQ · (NBu4)2Fe2(DHBQ)3 · Cu3(C6O6)2 · NiFe-THQ
Nodes / linkers: Fe · Cu · Ni · THQ · DHBQ · C6O6
p003 / 9486 · 2.2. Extended Conjugation Pathway
Review-level synthesis principles remain separate from primary-study recipes.
Move beyond dense 2D stacking by building 3D frameworks or hierarchical 3D scaffolds to improve mass transport and site accessibility.
Claimed effects: Facilitates electron transfer, mass transport and active-site exposure.
Controlling variables: framework dimensionality · porosity · nanobundle or hierarchical morphology · postsynthetic treatment
Representative materials: FeTHQ · Zn-HAB · V-MOF48@CNTF · Co-CAT/NiFe-LDH/CNFs
Caveat: Few true 3D EC-MOFs are reported and synthesis can be costly or complicated.
p010 / 9493 · 3.3.2. MOF-Based 3D Architectures
Use nickel foam, carbon cloth, CNTs, CNFs, graphene or smart textile substrates to improve electron collection and mechanical processability.
Claimed effects: Creates favourable electron transport and active-site exposure while enabling flexible or integrated electrodes.
Controlling variables: substrate conductivity · surface chemistry · MOF-substrate interface · growth method
Representative materials: NiPc-MOFAED@NF · Cu-catecholate/CC · CuCAT@CNFNs · CNF@c-MOF
Caveat: Substrates complicate performance comparisons because measured electrochemical outputs can reflect substrate morphology and surface area.
p009 / 9492 · 3.2.2. Conducting Substrates
Tune square-planar, octahedral, nonplanar or pillared coordination to modify electronic coupling, interlayer spacing and accessible sites.
Claimed effects: Can improve charge transport or improve accessibility for electrocatalysis, but the two may trade off.
Controlling variables: metal node geometry · pillar ligand · interlayer distance · coordination distortion
Representative materials: Fe-THQ · Cu-THQ-BPY · Cu3(C6O6)2
Caveat: Pillar insertion may reduce bulk conductivity by weakening pi-pi overlap.
p006 / 9489 · 3.1.2. Ligand-Regulated Coordination Geometry
Introduce PPy, PEDOT or PANI inside MOF pores, on external surfaces, or both to create continuous conducting networks.
Claimed effects: Conducting polymers serve as charge sources and transporters and allow conductivity/porosity tuning.
Controlling variables: polymer loading · pore size · channel length · inner versus outer placement · interfacial adhesion
Representative materials: PPy/ZIFs · MIL-101(Cr)/PEDOT · Zr-MOF/PPy · Fe-MOF/PANI
Caveat: Guest polymers may block pores or leave insufficient interfacial contact if only on external surfaces.
p008 / 9491 · 3.2.1. Conducting Polymers
Use heteroatom-containing, pi-conjugated ligands to align energy levels and enable carrier delocalisation in the framework.
Claimed effects: Increases carrier concentration, orbital stacking and charge mobility.
Controlling variables: heteroatom type · ligand conjugation · metal-ligand orbital overlap · redox activity
Representative materials: Ni3(HITP)2 · Fe2(DSBDC) · Ni3(HITAT)2
Caveat: Ligand identity alone is not decisive; morphology and measurement method also shift conductivity values.
p004 / 9487 · 3.1. Ligand Modulation
Use two compatible ligands to tune band gap, nitrogen content, topology and conductivity in solid-solution-like EC-MOFs.
Claimed effects: Can increase conductivity by orders of magnitude and provide ligand-dependent structure-property relationships.
Controlling variables: ligand ratio · functional group type · crystal composition · band gap
Representative materials: Cu3(HAB)x(TATHB)2-x · Cu3(HHTP)(THQ)
Caveat: Further electronic-property modulation may still be needed when materials remain semiconductive.
p006 / 9489 · 3.1.3. Mixed-Ligand Synthetic Strategy
Compile conductivity data and ligand/metal descriptors to screen QMOF or literature-derived spaces for candidate conductive MOFs.
Claimed effects: Reduces time and cost for identifying candidate conductive MOFs and structure-activity relationships.
Controlling variables: training data coverage · ligand ring number · functional group type · metal type · oxidation state
Representative materials: Cu-TTPD
Caveat: Conductivity data are sparse and measurement protocols are nonuniform, limiting model certainty.
p020 / 9503 · 5.3. Machine Learning-Driven EC-MOF Discovery
Prepare thin films using LBL-LPE, solution shearing, chemical vapour routes or electrodeposition to reduce contact artefacts and integrate devices.
Claimed effects: Improves overall MOF performance by reducing contacts and enabling large-area film architectures.
Controlling variables: film thickness · grain boundaries · growth direction · immobilisation of catalytic species · crystal domain size
Representative materials: Cu3(HHTP)2-xC · Pt@Cu3(HHTP)2 · Ni3(HITP)2 films
Caveat: Large-area, highly pure films and simultaneous species immobilisation remain difficult.
p009 / 9492 · 3.3.1. MOF Films
These are the review authors’ synthesis, not newly measured results.
3D and hierarchical EC-MOF architectures can improve active-site access and mass transport relative to densely stacked 2D layers, but the field has relatively few true 3D EC-MOFs.
Evidence basis: review_reasoning
Caveat: Synthesis/functionalisation control remains underdeveloped.
p010 / 9493 · 3.3.2. MOF-Based 3D Architectures
Conducting polymers are framed as processable guest materials that can provide charge carriers and transporters in MOF composites.
Evidence basis: multi_reference
Caveat: Conductivity gains are coupled to pore-size and loading constraints.
p007 / 9490 · 3.2.1. Conducting Polymers
The review repeatedly treats electrical conductivity as a key enabler of EC-MOF electrocatalysis, but not the only determinant because active-site density, porosity and morphology also matter.
Evidence basis: multi_reference
Caveat: Electrocatalytic benchmark values remain secondary literature and substrate-sensitive.
p011 / 9494 · 4. Conductive MOFs for Electrocatalysis
Conductive MOF thin films are useful for probing anisotropic electrical properties because they reduce contact and junction interference relative to powders or pellets.
Evidence basis: multi_reference
Caveat: Film growth itself introduces thickness and grain-boundary effects.
p009 / 9492 · 3.3.1. MOF Films
Guest-promoted conductivity can introduce transport pathways into otherwise insulating MOFs, but guest species can block pores and reduce available surface area.
Evidence basis: multi_reference
Caveat: This tradeoff matters for electrocatalysis because accessible pores and active sites remain important.
p004 / 9487 · 2.5. Guest-Promoted Transport
Mechanistic interpretation should not assume the metal node is always the active site; ligand-centred or mixed metal-ligand electronic structures can participate in ORR.
Evidence basis: single_reference
Caveat: This is based on selected DFT/mechanistic examples and should be verified in each primary system.
p018 / 9501 · 5.1. Density Functional Theory Calculations
Redox-active conjugated organic ligands with strong orbital stacking are presented as a primary design principle for high-quality EC-MOFs.
Evidence basis: multi_reference
Caveat: Metal node, morphology and dimensionality remain co-determinants.
p004 / 9487 · 3.1. Ligand Modulation
Conductivity comparisons across MOFs require caution because probe geometry, morphology, grain boundaries, anisotropy and contact resistance can change reported values substantially.
Evidence basis: multi_reference
Caveat: Chapter use should treat Table 1 as secondary context and not as a primary leaderboard.
p004 / 9487 · 3.1. Ligand Modulation
Machine learning can accelerate EC-MOF discovery, but sparse, nonuniform conductivity data and many structural factors keep the design space uncertain.
Evidence basis: multi_reference
Caveat: Prediction outputs should be treated as screening hypotheses, not primary conductivity evidence.
p019 / 9502 · 5.3. Machine Learning-Driven EC-MOF Discovery
Most MOFs are intrinsically poor electronic conductors because carrier concentration and mobility are low, motivating EC-MOF design rather than assuming porosity implies conductivity.
Evidence basis: multi_reference
Caveat: The review contrasts this with EC-MOF subfamilies and conductive composites.
p001 / 9484 · 1. Introduction
No single EC-MOF transport pathway dominates the whole field; through-bond, extended conjugation, through-space stacking, redox hopping and guest-promoted mechanisms all appear in different materials.
Evidence basis: multi_reference
Caveat: Some pathway assignments, especially through-space contributions in 2D MOFs, remain difficult to confirm.
p003 / 9486 · Figure 3
Because EC-MOF structures and charge pathways vary widely, the review argues there is often no universally best route to improve conductivity.
Evidence basis: review_reasoning
Caveat: Best strategy depends on the target application and measurement geometry.
p004 / 9487 · 2. Mechanism of Electron Conduction
Pyrolysis and conductive additives can increase charge transport, but may destroy intrinsic porosity or sacrifice pristine MOF functionality.
Evidence basis: review_reasoning
Caveat: This claim is about strategy tradeoffs, not a ban on derivative or composite approaches.
p001 / 9484 · 1. Introduction
EC-MOF conductivity depends on both carrier concentration and mobility; low activation energy, compatible metal/ligand energy levels and redox-capable ligands favour high conductivity.
Evidence basis: review_reasoning
Caveat: The review uses a simplified conductivity expression and broad qualitative descriptors.
p002 / 9485 · 2. Mechanism of Electron Conduction
Square-planar d-pi conjugation helps charge mobility, but the review warns that it is not by itself sufficient for high-efficiency long-range charge transport.
Evidence basis: review_reasoning
Caveat: Nonplanar and 3D geometries may improve accessibility even when bulk conductivity falls.
p006 / 9489 · 3.1.2. Ligand-Regulated Coordination Geometry
The role of through-space conductivity in 2D MOFs can be hard to isolate; intervalence charge transfer may instead be the dominant explanation in some systems.
Evidence basis: single_reference
Caveat: This is a mechanistic caution rather than a rejection of through-space transport.
p003 / 9486 · 2.3. Through-Space Pathway
Every row remains visibly secondary and links to a primary dossier only where the mapping is verified.
| Material | Property | Reported value | Context and quality | Primary evidence | Review source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SecondaryCNF@c-MOF | electrical conductivity | 100 S/cm | Conductive MOF nanolayers grown on cellulose nanofibres Text · Exact Reported | research_0174 | p010 / 9493 · 3.3.3. 2D MOF/1D Non-MOF Matrices |
| SecondaryCo-MOF nanoboxes | ORR half-wave potential | E1/2 = 0.88 V | ORR in alkaline medium Text · Exact Reported | No verified corpus mapping | p014 / 9497 · 4.3. Oxygen Reduction Reaction |
| SecondaryCu-BHT | electrical conductivity | 10^3 S/cm | Table 1; four-point probe footnote Table · Exact Reported | No verified corpus mapping | p004 / 9487 · Table 1 · Table 1 |
| SecondaryCuI-CuIIHHTP@Cu0 | C2 product selectivity | 72.6% | CO2RR; partially electro-reduced Cu-MOF film Text · Exact Reported | No verified corpus mapping | p016 / 9499 · 4.4. CO2RR and NRR |
| SecondaryCu3(HHTP)2-xC thin film | electrical conductivity | 3.8 x 10^-7 to 2.1 x 10^-3 S/cm | Varied with film thickness; LBL-LPE growth Text · Range | research_0263 | p009 / 9492 · 3.3.1. MOF Films |
| SecondaryCu-HHTP | H2O2 selectivity | 95% | 2e- ORR; Cu-HHTP covalent centres Text · Exact Reported | research_0833 | p015 / 9498 · 4.3. Oxygen Reduction Reaction |
| SecondaryCu3(HHTP)2 | electrical conductivity | 0.002 S/cm | Table 1; two-probe footnote Table · Exact Reported | research_0145 | p004 / 9487 · Table 1 · Table 1 |
| SecondaryCu3(HITP)2@h-BN | NRR faradaic efficiency | 42.5% | NRR under acidic conditions Text · Exact Reported | No verified corpus mapping | p017 / 9500 · 4.4. CO2RR and NRR |
| SecondaryCu-TTPD | measured vs predicted conductivity | measured 10^-5.77 S/cm; predicted 10^-3.30 S/cm | ML screening validation example Text · Approximate | No verified corpus mapping | p021 / 9504 · 5.3. Machine Learning-Driven EC-MOF Discovery |
| SecondaryFe-THQ | electrical conductivity | 3.3 +/- 0.55 mS/cm | Table 1 and section text; four-point probe footnote Text · Exact Reported | research_0066 | p006 / 9489 · 3.1.2. Ligand-Regulated Coordination Geometry |
| SecondaryNi3(Ni3-HAHATN)2 | electrical conductivity | 2 S/cm | Table 1; four-point probe footnote Table · Exact Reported | research_0513 | p004 / 9487 · Table 1 · Table 1 |
| SecondaryCu3(HAB)x(TATHB)2-x | electrical conductivity increase | 4.2 x 10^-8 to 2.9 x 10^-5 S/cm | Varied HAB:TATHB ratio Text · Range | research_0441 | p006 / 9489 · 3.1.3. Mixed-Ligand Synthetic Strategy |
| SecondaryNi0.5Fe0.5-THQ | OER overpotential | 272 mV at 10 mA cm^-2 | OER; 10 mA cm^-2 Text · Exact Reported | research_0449 | p013 / 9496 · 4.2. Oxygen Evolution Reaction |
| SecondaryNi0.5Fe0.5-THQ | electrical conductivity | 6.24 x 10^-2 uS/cm | Bimetallic THQ conductive MOF Text · Exact Reported | research_0449 | p013 / 9496 · 4.2. Oxygen Evolution Reaction |
| SecondaryNi-HAB | electrical conductivity | 1.050 S/cm | Table 1; four-point probe footnote Table · Exact Reported | research_0579 | p004 / 9487 · Table 1 · Table 1 |
| SecondaryNi3(Ni3-HAHATN)2 | HER overpotential | 115 mV at 10 mA cm^-2 | HER; current density 10 mA cm^-2 Text · Exact Reported | research_0513 | p012 / 9495 · 4.1. Hydrogen Evolution Reaction |
| SecondaryNi3(HITAT)2 | bulk conductivity | 44 mS/cm | Bulk conductivity in section text Text · Exact Reported | No verified corpus mapping | p005 / 9488 · 3.1.1. Conjugated Building Blocks with Heteroatoms |
| SecondaryNi3(HITBim)2 | bulk conductivity | 0.5 mS/cm | Bulk conductivity in section text Text · Exact Reported | No verified corpus mapping | p005 / 9488 · 3.1.1. Conjugated Building Blocks with Heteroatoms |
| SecondaryNi3(HITP)2 | electrical conductivity | 2 S/cm | Table 1; two-probe footnote Table · Exact Reported | research_0145 | p004 / 9487 · Table 1 · Table 1 |
| SecondaryMIL-101(Cr)/PEDOT | electronic conductivity | 1.1 x 10^-3 S/cm | PEDOT chains incorporated in MIL-101(Cr) Text · Exact Reported | No verified corpus mapping | p003 / 9486 · 2.5. Guest-Promoted Transport |
| SecondaryPPy/ZIFs | electrical conductivity | >1.5 S/cm | Tuned pyrrole monomer:ZIF mass ratio Text · Approximate | No verified corpus mapping | p008 / 9491 · 3.2.1. Conducting Polymers |
| SecondaryPt3(C12N6O6)2 MOF | PEMFC peak power density | 248 mW cm^-2 at 0.74 V | MOF-based MEA under actual PEMFC operation Text · Exact Reported | research_0811 | p015 / 9498 · 4.3. Oxygen Reduction Reaction |
| SecondaryRuCo-CAT/CC | HER overpotential | 38 mV at 10 mA cm^-2 | HER; current density 10 mA cm^-2 Text · Exact Reported | research_0596 | p013 / 9496 · 4.1. Hydrogen Evolution Reaction |
| SecondaryTi-DHTP | urea faradaic efficiency | 21.75% at -0.6 V | CO2 and nitrate co-reduction to urea Text · Exact Reported | No verified corpus mapping | p016 / 9499 · 4.4. CO2RR and NRR |
| SecondaryZr-MOF/PPy | electrical conductivity | ~14.3 S/cm | Inner-outer dual PPy modification Text · Approximate | No verified corpus mapping | p008 / 9491 · 3.2.1. Conducting Polymers |
Open questions are presented as review-author priorities, not conclusions from the primary database.
Only a limited number of 3D EC-MOFs are reported, and synthesis strategies remain underexplored.
Proposed direction: Control 3D framework synthesis and functionalisation to target desired electronic and electrochemical properties.
p010 / 9493 · 3.3.2. MOF-Based 3D Architectures
Although alkaline ORR has progressed, acidic ORR remains challenged by catalytic efficiency and stability.
Proposed direction: Optimise conjugated-ligand Pt-MOFs or non-Pt EC-MOFs for acid-stable PEMFC operation.
p015 / 9498 · 4.3. Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Conductivities have been reported for only a small number of MOFs despite the large known MOF space.
Proposed direction: Expand standardised conductivity datasets for ML screening and validation.
p019 / 9502 · 5.3. Machine Learning-Driven EC-MOF Discovery
For defective MOFs in CO2RR, it remains ambiguous whether introduced defects survive harsh catalytic reaction conditions.
Proposed direction: Track defect changes and evolution operando during catalytic reactions.
p017 / 9500 · 4.4. CO2RR and NRR
Large-area, highly pure EC-MOF films and simultaneous catalytic-species immobilisation remain difficult.
Proposed direction: Improve film-growth methods and immobilisation strategies for large-domain single-crystal and atomically thin MOFs.
p009 / 9492 · 3.3.1. MOF Films
Constructing intrinsically conductive MOFs remains challenging because small framework variations can change conductivity by orders of magnitude.
Proposed direction: Clarify framework-variable/transport-pathway relationships before generalising design rules.
p004 / 9487 · 2. Mechanism of Electron Conduction
The review argues that advanced in situ characterisation, high-resolution microscopy, high-throughput DFT and ML are needed to close the gap with noble-metal electrocatalysts.
Proposed direction: Combine operando characterisation with computation and ML to refine chemically diverse training sets.
p022 / 9505 · 6. Prospects and Challenges
Precise growth of MOFs on another dimensional matrix and scalable preparation of high-quality 1D/3D MOF-based nanomaterials remain limited.
Proposed direction: Develop controlled dimensional engineering routes with acceptable conductivity and functionality.
p004 / 9487 · 2. Mechanism of Electron Conduction
Scale-up, long-term stability, device safety, recyclability and toxic-solvent avoidance remain practical barriers.
Proposed direction: Prioritise low-cost, non-toxic, nonvolatile or noncorrosive synthesis and direct growth on conductive substrates.
p021 / 9504 · 6. Prospects and Challenges
Selenium-substituted organic molecules have been proposed, but corresponding framework structures have not been confirmed.
Proposed direction: Undertake targeted synthesis and structural confirmation of benzenepolyselenol-derived frameworks.
p006 / 9489 · 3.1.1. Conjugated Building Blocks with Heteroatoms
The review states that nonuniform conductivity and electrocatalysis methods reduce comparability and credibility.
Proposed direction: Standardise measurement conditions, characterisation, performance evaluation and stability reporting.
p021 / 9504 · 6. Prospects and Challenges
Mappings show which printed review references have a verified counterpart in the frozen primary corpus.
| Reference | Study | Role and context | Corpus mapping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ref. 192020 | Electrically Conductive Metal-Organic Frameworks | transport_taxonomySource review used for broad EC-MOF conductivity range and design context. | Unmapped |
| Ref. 232024 | Extrinsically conducting MOFs: guest-promoted enhancement of electrical conductivity, thin film fabrication and applications | transport_taxonomy · guest_transportSupports the intrinsic versus extrinsic conduction distinction and guest-promoted conduction caveats. | Unmapped |
| Ref. 292016 | Nanostructuration of PEDOT in Porous Coordination Polymers for Tunable Porosity and Conductivity | transport_benchmark · conducting_polymerKey example of guest polymer incorporation producing electronic conductivity while retaining porosity. | Unmapped |
| Ref. 472017 | Conductive Copper Benzenehexathiol Coordination Polymer as a Hydrogen Evolution Catalyst | transport_benchmark · HERHigh-conductivity Cu-BHT benchmark and HER thin-film example. | Unmapped |
| Ref. 492020 | Two-Dimensional Conductive Ni-HAB as a Catalyst for the Electrochemical Oxygen Reduction Reaction | transport_benchmark · ORRCrystallinity/conductivity case for Ni-HAB in ORR. | research_0579 |
| Ref. 502020 | Conductive Metal-Organic Frameworks with Extra Metallic Sites as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction | transport_benchmark · HERExtra metallic Ni-N2 sites in a conductive framework used to link conductivity with HER activity. | research_0513 |
| Ref. 562015 | Chemiresistive Sensor Arrays from Conductive 2D Metal-Organic Frameworks | transport_benchmarkTable 1 source for several canonical 2D triphenylene-framework conductivity values. | research_0145 |
| Ref. 602023 | Linker-Based Bandgap Tuning in Conductive MOF Solid Solutions | transport_benchmark · mixed_ligandMixed-ligand conductivity-tuning example. | research_0441 |
| Ref. 622020 | Valence-Dependent Electrical Conductivity in a 3D Tetrahydroxyquinone-Based Metal-Organic Framework | transport_benchmark · 3D_MOFRepresentative 3D THQ framework used for nonplanar redox-hopping/band-structure discussion. | research_0066 |
| Ref. 672023 | Controlling Charge Transport in 2D Conductive MOFs - The Role of Nitrogen-Rich Ligands and Chemical Functionality | transport_benchmark · ligand_modulationNitrogen-rich ligand functionality case showing large conductivity differences. | Unmapped |
| Ref. 962019 | Confined polymerization strategy to construct polypyrrole/zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (PPy/ZIFs) nanocomposites for tunable electrical conductivity and excellent electromagnetic absorption | transport_benchmark · conducting_polymerInner polymerisation in ZIF pores used as benchmark for conducting-polymer incorporation. | Unmapped |
| Ref. 982025 | Highly electrically conductive MOF/conducting polymer nanocomposites toward tunable electromagnetic wave absorption | transport_benchmark · conducting_polymerInner-outer dual PPy modification benchmark. | Unmapped |
| Ref. 1112022 | The Growth Mechanism of a Conductive MOF Thin Film in Spray-based Layer-by-layer Liquid Phase Epitaxy | thin_film · transport_benchmarkThin-film thickness/grain-boundary conductivity case. | research_0263 |
| Ref. 1222021 | Large-area synthesis of nanoscopic catalyst-decorated conductive MOF film using microfluidic-based solution shearing | thin_film · synthesis_strategyMicrofluidic solution-shearing strategy for large-area conductive MOF films. | research_0257 |
| Ref. 1252019 | Cellulose Nanofiber @ Conductive Metal-Organic Frameworks for High-Performance Flexible Supercapacitors | transport_benchmark · 1D_matrixConductive MOF nanolayers on cellulose nanofibers benchmark for flexible hierarchical matrices. | research_0174 |
| Ref. 1472023 | Creating Dual Active Sites in Conductive Metal-Organic Frameworks for Efficient Water Splitting | HER · benchmarkRu-doped Co-CAT example linking doped electronic structure, conductivity and HER activity. | research_0596 |
| Ref. 1582024 | Regulating Electronic Structure of Bimetallic NiFe-THQ Conductive Metal-Organic Frameworks to Boost Catalytic Activity for Oxygen Evolution Reaction | OER · benchmarkBimetallic THQ framework used for electronic-structure/OER benchmark. | research_0449 |
| Ref. 1702024 | Conductive cobalt-organic framework nanoboxes for efficient electrochemical oxygen reduction | ORR · benchmarkMorphology-engineered Co-MOF nanobox ORR example. | Unmapped |
| Ref. 1712022 | Dissecting pi-conjugated covalent-coupling over conductive MOFs toward efficient two-electron oxygen reduction | ORR · H2O2 · benchmarkTwo-electron ORR/H2O2 selectivity example for conductive Cu-HHTP. | research_0833 |
| Ref. 1762016 | Electrochemical oxygen reduction catalysed by Ni3(hexaiminotriphenylene)2 | ORR · benchmarkHigh-crystallinity Ni3(HITP)2 ORR benchmark. | research_0003 |
| Ref. 1822023 | Electrically conductive Pt-MOFs for acidic oxygen reduction: Optimized performance via altering conjugated ligands | ORR · acidic_ORR · benchmarkAcidic ORR Pt-MOF benchmark and membrane electrode assembly example. | research_0811 |
| Ref. 1832024 | High C-Selectivity for Urea Synthesis Through O-Philic Adsorption to Form *OCO Intermediate on Ti-MOF Based Electrocatalysts | CO2RR · urea · benchmarkCO2/nitrate co-reduction to urea example. | Unmapped |
| Ref. 1842024 | Confined CuI sites in partially electro-reduced 2D conductive Cu-MOF film for boosting CO2 electrocatalysis to C2 products | CO2RR · C2_products · benchmarkConductive Cu-MOF film example for C2 products from CO2RR. | Unmapped |
| Ref. 1952022 | Hydrophobicity modulation on a ferriporphyrin-based metal-organic framework for enhanced ambient electrocatalytic nitrogen fixation | NRR · benchmarkFerriporphyrin MOF NRR benchmark and mechanism example. | Unmapped |
| Ref. 1962023 | A Robust n-n Heterojunction: Cu-N and B-N Boosting for Ambient Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction to Ammonia | NRR · benchmarkHeterojunction strategy combining Cu3(HITP)2 and h-BN for acidic NRR. | Unmapped |
| Ref. 2012024 | Unraveling the Intrinsic Mechanism of High-Performance Two-Dimensional Conjugated Metal-Organic Frameworks for ORR/OER through Theoretical Investigation | DFT · ORR · OERDFT example for ORR/OER bifunctional mechanisms. | Unmapped |
| Ref. 2032017 | Mechanistic Evidence for Ligand-Centered Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction with the Conductive MOF Ni3(hexaiminotriphenylene)2 | DFT · ORR · ligand_active_siteMechanistic evidence that ligand sites can be active in ORR, not only metal nodes. | research_0816 |
| Ref. 2142022 | MOF Synthesis Prediction Enabled by Automatic Data Mining and Machine Learning | machine_learning · synthesis_predictionML synthesis-condition prediction example. | Unmapped |
| Ref. 2152024 | Machine Learning-Driven Discovery and Structure-Activity Relationship Analysis of Conductive Metal-Organic Frameworks | machine_learning · transport_benchmarkConductive-MOF database and ML screening benchmark. | Unmapped |