Abstract The function of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is fundamentally governed by their synthesis precision. Here, we report a light-driven strategy enabling ambient-temperature MOFs synthesis (15 °C, 4 hours) for cobalt-porphyrin frameworks (phoPPF-3), overcoming traditional thermal constraints. This approach achieves multidimensional control, manifested in two-dimensional hourglass morphologies and selective Co 2 ⁺-carboxylate coordination that preserves free-base porphyrin cores unattainable conventionally. Resulting phoPPF-3 exhibits enhanced thermal stability and higher photocatalytic activity in benzyl alcohol oxidation and H 2 evolution comparing to solvothermal analogues. The methodology demonstrates a certain generality through successful extension to other MOFs. This work marks the demonstration of using photons to initiate and guide MOFs synthesis and establishes a sustainable approach for atomically precise MOFs engineering via photochemical control.
Wang et al. (2026) studied this question.