Metal-Organic Frameworks as “Molecular Sponges”: An Analysis of Their Strategic Role in the Context of Carbon Neutrality

Carbon neutrality has become a core strategic objective in the global fight against climate change, with countries actively pursuing its realization through diverse approaches such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). However, current technologies still face critical bottlenecks, including high energy consumption in CO2 capture, low conversion efficiency, and insufficient storage safety. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as novel porous materials with high-efficiency adsorption, separation, and catalytic functions, have emerged as “molecular sponges” in the carbon neutrality technology system, providing a new paradigm to address core challenges in achieving carbon neutrality. Based on authoritative literature data, this study compares the performance differences between MOFs and traditional adsorbents/catalysts, outlines material design strategies and industrialization challenges, and ultimately constructs a strategic positioning framework for MOFs as “molecular sponges” in the carbon neutrality technology system. It focuses on analyzing their strategic applications in carbon capture, utilization, and storage, offering references for material innovation and system optimization in low-carbon technologies.