Abdelkarim Chaouiki, Maryam Chafiq, Rachid Salghi, Belkheir Hammouti, Noureddine Elboughdiri, Young Gun Ko
Porous materials have a long-standing history of development and application, with continuous advancements leading to the design and synthesis of increasingly sophisticated organic and organic–inorganic variants. Among these, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have garnered significant global attention due to their promising utility across diverse sectors such as adsorption, catalysis, drug delivery, luminescence, sensing, separation analysis, and energy storage. Notably, the fusion of COFs and MOFs into hybrid materials has emerged as a rapidly advancing research frontier, offering the combined advantages of both frameworks. These MOFs-in-COFs (MIC) hybrids exhibit remarkable structural properties and superior functionalities, positioning them as highly versatile for next-generation materials technologies applications. Central to the success of such hybrids is the interfacial chemistry governing COF–MOF integration, which enables the engineering of novel materials with complementary and optimized properties. This review, therefore, examines recent advancements in the design, synthesis, structural characterization, and functional application of MIC hybrids, highlighting key synthetic strategies, including the MOF-first, COF-first, and post-synthetic modification strategies that facilitate precise framework integration. The discussion emphasizes the unique structural properties, functional advantages, and mechanistic aspects of interfacial chemistry that underpin hybrid performance and stability. Given the scientific community's growing interest in computational modeling and AI, the review discusses the indispensable role of these tools in understanding, predicting, and optimizing the properties of MIC hybrid systems. These advanced techniques offer significant potential for accelerating the development and refinement of these materials. The review concludes by addressing the existing challenges in developing MIC hybrids while highlighting potential research avenues that could enhance their applicability, positioning MIC hybrids as a promising solution for future material science applications. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd
Integrated Materials Chemistry Laboratory, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, South Korea; Laboratory of Applied Chemistry and Environment, ENSA, University Ibn Zohr, PO Box 1136, Agadir, 80000, Morocco; Euromed University of Fes, UEMF, Fes, 30030, Morocco; Chemical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Ha'il, P.O. Box 2440, Ha'il 81441, Saudi Arabia; Department of Chemistry, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, 40154, Indonesia
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