Issue 20, 2021

Metal–organic framework micromotors: perspectives for environmental applications

Abstract

Micromotors possessing a self-propulsion system have been proposed as a new generation of advanced materials for various environmental applications. Due to their actively moving properties, micromotors can significantly improve the operational efficiency of typical environmental remediation (e.g., adsorption and photocatalysis) as well as the dynamic sensing of typical pollutants. The cargo or propellant-loading capability of micromotors can be enhanced by increasing the specific surface area. In this regard, highly porous metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) can be ideal candidates for micromotors with efficient autonomous motion capabilities. Hence, integration of MOFs into micromotors can provide a multitude of new opportunities for specific but uncharacterized applications. However, MOF micromotors remain in their infancy despite exploration on a wide variety. The present study aimed to briefly review the few cases of MOF micromotors reported in the literature with regard to environmental applications. The broader objective was to highlight the remarkable potential of MOF micromotor systems to motivate and increase new research at the intersection of environmental and material engineering.

Graphical abstract: Metal–organic framework micromotors: perspectives for environmental applications

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
25 Jun 2021
Accepted
12 Sep 2021
First published
16 Sep 2021

Catal. Sci. Technol., 2021,11, 6592-6600

Metal–organic framework micromotors: perspectives for environmental applications

K. Vikrant and K. Kim, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2021, 11, 6592 DOI: 10.1039/D1CY01124C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements