The Role of Metal-Organic Frameworks in Clean Energy: A Comprehensive Review of Applications, Advances, and Challenges

Abstract The urgent need for sustainable energy solutions has driven extensive research into advanced materials for carbon capture and hydrogen storage. Among these, Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising candidates due to their exceptionally high surface area (up to 7,800 m2/g), tunable porosity, and superior gas adsorption properties. MOFs have demonstrated CO₂ capture capacities exceeding 30 wt.% at ambient conditions and hydrogen storage densities reaching 6.9 wt%, surpassing conventional materials such as zeolites and activated carbons. Recent breakthroughs in MOF synthesis, including functionalized and hybrid structures, have significantly enhanced their selectivity and stability for real-world applications. However, challenges such as scalability, synthesis costs, and long-term structural integrity hinder widespread industrial deployment. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the latest advancements in MOF-based carbon and hydrogen storage, explores their practical applications in clean energy, and discusses critical challenges in transitioning these materials from laboratory research to large-scale implementation. By bridging fundamental research with industrial feasibility, this paper highlights the transformative potential of MOFs in achieving global decarbonization and a hydrogen-based energy economy.