A new family of carbon materials: synthesis of MOF-derived nanoporous carbons and their promising applications

Nanoporous carbons possessing high surface area and narrow pore size distribution are among the most important classes of porous materials that are practically utilized in industries. Recently, several metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) or porous coordination polymers (PCPs) have been demonstrated as promising precursors to create functional nanoporous carbons. In this highlight article, we briefly review the recent progress in preparation of these novel MOF-derived nanoporous carbons. Some promising applications in energy and environment-related areas and future outlook are also discussed.