Beyond powders: Monoliths on the basis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)

In the past two decades, considerable metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been identified and prepared, showing great promise in various fields. In general, the powdery MOFs have limited mechanical strength and poor processability and recyclability owing to the rigidity and fragility of MOFs. Moreover, the cost ease and large-scale production with good controllability and integrity are prerequisites to cross the gap from lab to market, especially for large-scale application. Most recently, the fabrication of MOF-based 3D monoliths is of greatest focus to tackle the aforementioned issues. Herein, we briefly summarize the representative fabrication strategies and features of 3D MOF-monoliths and their application in energy storage, separation, gas storage, biomedical applications, catalysis and motors. The fabricated MOF-monoliths exhibit excellent advantages and even additional bonus to surpass MOF powder in different aspects, including: 1) improved robustness benefited from substrates and 3D structures; 2) enhanced reusability facilitated by integrity and large-salacity; 3) extra pores and active sites for accommodating more guest molecules; 4) ease in medical supplies preparation with enhanced processabilities. Thus, MOF-monoliths have promising advantages with good commercial-transnationality and clinical-transnationality.