A holistic review of MOF-based solar-driven atmospheric water harvesting

Abstract

The growing global demand for clean water, particularly in arid and off-grid regions, has spurred intensive research into sustainable water generation technologies. Among them, solar-driven atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) using metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) has emerged as a highly promising solution, owing to MOFs’ exceptional topological/compositional tunability, and high porosity/surface area. This review systematically explores the key material-level and system-level factors influencing SAWH performance. First, we discuss the fundamental requirements for effective water adsorption, including high water uptake at low relative humidity, steep adsorption isotherms, and rapid adsorption–desorption kinetics. We then analyze the photothermal properties critical to solar-triggered desorption and classify strategies to enhance light-to-heat conversion in MOF-based systems, such as bandgap tuning, framework functionalization, and MOF–composite formation. The stability of MOFs under humid conditions, a major limitation for long-term operation, is also critically examined, with a focus on hydrolytic degradation mechanisms and design strategies for robust frameworks. In addition, auxiliary considerations such as management of contaminants, and shaping methodologies for MOFs are addressed, alongside novel device architectures that enhance passive solar utilization. We highlight the evolution of passive SAWH devices, showcasing advances in structural design, material integration, and thermodynamic modeling that enable efficient, continuous, and scalable operation. By consolidating recent advances in MOF chemistry, photothermal engineering, and device optimization, this review provides a comprehensive roadmap for the future development of efficient, sustainable, and deployable SAWH systems.