Quantum Dots@Metal–Organic Frameworks Composites

The development and design of novel quantum dots@metal organic frameworks (QDs@MOFs) composites have been performed to address various societal issues such as energy crises, bacterial infections, the sensing of harmful gases or substances, etc. Combining the advantages of tunable characteristics, unique structural features, and advanced physiochemical properties of MOFs with quantum confinement in quantum dots, these hybrid materials can become a potential candidate for gas storage, catalysis, chemical sensing, and electrochemical energy storage applications. However, MOFs alone possess certain limitations, such as limited electrical conductivity, fixed pore size, and poor stability. These limitations can be overcome by the smart integration of QDs into MOF structures. The resulted host-guest structure shows a wide range of synergetic properties as the host (MOFs) framework suggests appropriate associations to the guest (QDs) for increasing stability, long carrier lifetime, enhanced, higher photoluminescence quantum yield and synergic properties. Thus, this chapter delivers a perception about the recent breakthroughs in the field of QDs@MOFs, their historical evolution, structural features, various synthesis strategies, and progress towards their utilization in numerous applications, including optoelectronics, biomedical, electrocatalysis, and energy storage. Along with this, it also addresses conclusion and future prospects of QDs@MOFs hybrid materials towards their implementation in energy and environmental applications.