Structural design of metal-organic frameworks with tunable colorimetric responses for visual sensing applications

Colorimetric sensors have attracted increasing interest because their signals can be easily observed by the naked eye or using smartphones for in situ sensing applications. Sensor performance is directly determined by the reporter probes that produce colorimetric responses to targets. As newly emerging colorimetric materials for visual sensing applications, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with tunable colorimetric responses can be obtained through careful design. The properties of MOFs, such as a large surface area, porous structure, and crystalline nature, impart the corresponding colorimetric sensing platforms with excellent stability, sensitivity, selectivity, and ease of assembly. In this review, we focus on recent advances in the design and synthesis of MOFs with tunable colorimetric properties as well as reported MOF-based visual sensing applications for various analytes, including cations, anions, volatile organic compounds, gases, and water. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Colorimetric sensors are attracting interest for in situ sensing applications due to their easily observable signals. Sensor performance relies on reporter probes, with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offering tunable colorimetric responses through careful design. MOFs with properties like a large surface area and porous structure provide excellent stability and sensitivity for colorimetric sensing.