This review is concerned with the recent advances in metal organic framework (MOF) materials.
We highlight the unique combination of physicochemical and thermomechanical characteristics
associated with MOF-type materials and illustrate emergent applications in three challenging
technological sectors: energy, environmental remediation and biomedicine. MOFs represent an
exciting new class of nanoporous crystalline solids constituting metal ions/clusters and
multifunctional organic linkages, which self-assemble at molecular level to generate a plethora
of ordered 3D framework materials. The most intriguing feature of a MOF lies in its exceptionally
large surface area, far surpassing those of the best activated carbons and zeolites. Next
generation multifunctional materials encompassing MOF based thin films, coatings, membranes
and nanocomposites have potential for exploitation in an immense array of unconventional
applications and smart devices. We pinpoint the key technological challenges and basic scientific
questions to be addressed, so as to fulfil the translational potential for bringing MOFs from the
laboratory into commercial applications.