Strategies for Overcoming Defects of HKUST-1 and Its Relevant Applications

In recent decades, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have achieved rapid development owing to the considerable concern from researchers. As one of the most intensely studied MOFs, HKUST-1 has shown remarkable performance which is considered feasible to apply in actual applications. However, the weak mechanical properties and water instability hinder its development which are mainly ascribed to lattice defects and surface barriers that impede mass transfer and molecular diffusion as well as electronic transmission. This review summarizes the recent literatures on the strategies of enhancing the above defects of virgin HKUST-1 and its various applications, mainly adsorption and separation, catalyst, sensor as well as optical and electronic applications. These improving strategies improve specific properties of HKUST-1 by decreasing the defects density, which will make this material more applicable for potential fields. Main strategies include the following: (1) modifying HKUST-1 with an armor, (2) getting durable MOFs by direct synthesis or surface hydrophobization, (3) reconstructing the moisture-degraded HKUST-1, and (4) making use of the buffer action of sacrificial bonds.