Nanoscale crystalline architectures of Hofmann-type metal–organic frameworks

Abstract Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been of particular interest to researchers because of their structural designability, robustness, and rich science arising from uniform porosity. Among them, Hofmann-type MOFs, which are one of the earliest examples of a MOF, have been intensively studied. For the bulk state of Hofmann-type MOFs, their spin transition behavior induced by guest molecules and external stimuli has long been discussed as a key subject. On the other hand, the use of Hofmann-type MOFs as a nanoscale architecture has recently attracted significant attention toward future practical applications, such as stimuli-responsive sensors and switching devices. In this review, we present an overview of the recent development of fabrication of crystalline architectures at the nanoscale including thin films and nanoparticles utilizing Hofmann-type MOFs.