Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) Nobel Prize Materials: Recent Advances in Synthesis, Structure, Luminescent Properties and Applications in Sensing, Water Treatment, Hydrogen Storage

Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have undergone remarkable development in recent decades, transforming them into one of the most dynamic classes of emerging composite materials. These crystalline, porous coordination networks, built from metal ions or metal clusters interconnected by organic linkers, form architectures with tunable porosity, large specific surface area, and chemical functionality. Due to their remarkable stability and customizable functionalities, MOFs have attracted significant attention in recent years as promising materials for different applications. In 2025, Susumu Kitagawa, Omar Yaghi, and Richard Robson were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for pioneering the development of MOF crystalline materials with spacious internal cavities that can store, filter or catalyze molecules. This review systematically consolidates the recent literature (since 2020) on MOF-based systems, covering state-of-the-art performance, synthesis advantages and limitations, and the influence of reaction parameters on morphology, structure, and luminescent properties. The rapid yearly increase in MOF-related publications, continuing strongly into 2026, reflects the growing global interest and highlights the rising importance of their design and applications. This trend motivates the central focus of this paper, which, in a single work, emphasizes the integrated use of MOFs in luminescent sensing, biosensing, the removal of heavy metals, microplastics, and organic dyes in water treatment, and hydrogen storage. Finally, the challenges, conclusions and future perspectives of MOF-based materials will be highlighted with the aim of providing guidelines for their further development and additional applications.