Nanomaterials via ZIF-8: Preparations, catalytic and drug delivery applications

Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8) is a widely studied metal–organic framework (MOF) that combines the structural diversity of MOFs with the robustness of zeolites. Composed of zinc ions (Zn2+) and 2-methylimidazolate linkers, ZIF-8 exhibits a sodalite (SOD) topology characterized by a highly porous crystalline structure. Its exceptional thermal and chemical stability, coupled with tunable properties, has made ZIF-8 a material of choice for a wide array of applications, including drug delivery and catalysis. In this review article, we provided a detailed overview of the ZIF-8-based nanomaterials and their application in catalysis and drug delivery. The thermal and chemical stability of ZIF-8 along with high porosity, and high surface area, make it superior material for various applications viz gas storage, separation, sensing, catalysis, ion conductivity, luminescent, biomedical imaging, and drug delivery. Further decreasing the size of ZIF-8 to nanosize and encapsulation/incorporation of nanoparticles, polymers, MOFs, graphene oxide, etc. enhance the properties of ZIF-8 materials. More than 9,930 publications have been appeared since ZIF-8 reported in 2006. The growing application of ZIF-8 as well as its nanocomposites in the field of catalysis and drug delivery has encouraged us to summarize the past results on catalysis and drug delivery by ZIF-8 nanomaterials.