Design and Development of Metal-Organic Frameworks for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Sustainable Energy Storage

Abstract

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising materials for carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture and sustainable energy storage; however, their sustainable design and deployment, particularly in developing economies, remain insufficiently integrated across technical, environmental, economic, and institutional dimensions. This study develops an integrated framework for the sustainable design and implementation of MOFs by synthesizing evidence from 127 studies published between 2015 and 2025. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a systematic literature review, qualitative thematic synthesis, barrier and enabler analysis, and expert consultation to identify sustainable MOF design practices and implementation requirements. The analysis identified six critical design practices: low-temperature and solvent-minimized synthesis, use of abundant metal precursors, functionalization, scalable shaping, regenerability and cycling stability, and lifecycle-oriented design. In addition, 23 barriers and 18 enablers were identified across technical, economic, institutional, social, and environmental dimensions. The findings indicate that limited synthesis capacity, high precursor and solvent costs, weak regulatory frameworks, limited stakeholder awareness, and environmentally intensive synthesis are among the major barriers to adoption, while policy incentives, public-private partnerships, capacity-building initiatives, and green-chemistry innovations are important enablers. Based on the synthesized evidence, a four-component implementation framework integrating MOF design optimization, performance monitoring, contextual adaptation, and stakeholder engagement is proposed. The framework provides a structured approach for linking material-level design decisions with sustainability metrics, monitoring requirements, and local implementation conditions, thereby supporting scalable, affordable, and environmentally sustainable deployment of MOFs for CO₂ capture and sustainable energy storage in developing economies.

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