Synthesis and applications of metal-organic framework–quantum dot (QD@MOF) composites

• General strategies for the synthesis of QD@MOF composites.
• Consideration of the semiconductor behaviour of MOFs.
• Applications of QD@MOF composites, including photocatalysis, light-harvesting, sensing, imaging and gas storage.
• Future outlook for QD@MOF composites.

The combination of the high surface areas, microporosity and tuneable compositions of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with the desirable photo-physical behaviour of semiconductor nanoparticles or quantum dots (QDs), allows the preparation of composite materials with enhanced properties for applications in photocatalysis, energy, gas-storage and sensing. These QD@MOF composites are an emergent class of materials and in this review we discuss current strategies for their synthesis, consider the semiconductor behaviour of MOFs themselves and present the applications of the various materials reported this far grouped by the nature of the QD component.