This review focuses on strategies for conversion between metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and gels (including organic gels and metal–organic gels). Crystal crosslinking and mismatch growth of MOF particles are two ingenious strategies to convert MOFs into gels. Reaction conditions (such as concentration of reactants and metal–ligand ratio) have great effect on conversion of MOFs and the third strategy is adjustment of key factors. As for transformation of gels into MOFs, gel degradation and dry-gel conversion have been employed to synthesize MOFs with high yield and improved properties such as better catalytic performances and larger surface areas. Growth of MOF films, MOF membranes and polyMOFs is another strategy. This review also analyzes influence of reaction conditions on morphologies and particle sizes of MOFs derived from gels. Some applications of these strategies have been demonstrated in this work. For example, gels obtained by conversion of MOFs can function as outstanding sorbents and MOF membranes prepared through gel layers have been applied to H₂/CO₂ separation. Moreover, this review also discusses possible mechanisms of conversion between crystalline MOFs and soft gels by different strategies and prospect of developing these strategies.

这篇综述着重于金属-有机骨架（MOFs）和凝胶（包括有机凝胶和金属-有机凝胶）之间的转化策略。MOF颗粒的晶体交联和错配生长是将MOF转化为凝胶的两种巧妙策略。反应条件（如反应物浓度和金属配体比）对MOF的转化有很大影响，第三个策略是调整关键因素。至于将凝胶转变成MOF，已经采用凝胶降解和干凝胶转化来合成MOF，具有高收率和改进的性能，例如更好的催化性能和更大的表面积。MOF薄膜，MOF膜和polyMOF的生长是另一种策略。这篇综述还分析了反应条件对衍生自凝胶的MOF的形态和粒径的影响。这些策略的一些应用已在这项工作中得到了证明。例如，通过MOF的转化获得的凝胶可以用作出色的吸附剂​​，并且通过凝胶层制备的MOF膜已应用于H₂ / CO ₂分离。此外，本文还讨论了通过不同策略在结晶MOF和软凝胶之间转化的可能机制，以及开发这些策略的前景。