Metal-organic frameworks with ftw-type connectivity: design, pore structure engineering, and potential applications

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) feature intrinsically structural diversity and high tunability with respect to porosity and functionality. By practice of reticular chemistry, the pore size, pore shape, and pore surface chemistry of MOFs can be systematically and precisely tuned. MOFs with ftw topology represent an extensively studied family for which reticular chemistry has been well implemented. In this article, advances in the development of ftw-type MOFs and their related applications are reviewed. In particular, we focus on the tuning of pore size and pore shape by ligand design as well as SBU modification for targeted applications. In addition, the existing challenges and possible future directions of this important research field will be briefly discussed.