UiO-66-based metal-organic frameworks for CO2 catalytic conversion, adsorption and separation

UiO-66 (UiO denotes the Oslo University where it was first reported) is an archetypical Zr-based metal-organic framework with numerous exceptional attributes, including larger surface area, well-ordered porous structures, stability, and flexible tailorability. It has found extensive applications in carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption and separation and CO2 conversion to value-added chemicals/fuels. This study presents a detailed combined application of UiO-66 for CO2 utilization covering adsorption, separation, and conversion to important chemical products. Prior to these, various aspects, including structural integrity, design and defect engineering of UiO-66 materials, and challenges associated with structural and morphology controls, were discussed. The study further discussed the corresponding performance of UiO-66 as adsorbents for CO2 uptakes, as membranes for CO2 separation, and as catalyst and photocatalysts for CO2 conversion to various alcohol and hydrocarbons, light olefins, and oxygenates, thereby suggesting the current research advancements in the implementation of UiO-66 materials for these applications. This was followed by the insight into integrated approaches for CO2 separation/ adsorption onto UiO-66 materials. Finally, this study identifies the associated weaknesses and strengths and treatment strategies, challenges/knowledge gaps to enable fostering and exploring new dimensions and directing specific research for large/industrial-scale applications.