Advances in Metal–Organic Frameworks for High-Performance Direct Air Capture of CO ₂

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide The escalating climate crisis demands gigaton-scale carbon dioxide removal, positioning Direct Air Capture (DAC) as a critical technological frontier. However, its widespread deployment is constrained by a fundamental trilemma involving cost, energy consumption, and sorbent longevity. Overcoming this challenge necessitates transformative material innovation. This review comprehensively examines recent breakthroughs in the molecular engineering of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), emphasizing their application for the precise recognition of CO 2 in DAC. We analyze material-level design strategies aimed at enhancing key performance indicators, i.e., CO 2 capacity, selectivity, sorption kinetics, and cyclic stability. A comparative assessment is presented to elucidate inherent performance trade-offs, delineating a clear cost-performance landscape to guide rational material selection. Finally, we outline emerging frontiers and future research trajectories, including intelligent adaptive sorbents, integrated capture-conversion systems, and AI-accelerated discovery. This review aims to serve not only as a snapshot of the current state of the art but also as a strategic roadmap for developing the economically viable, gigaton-scale systems imperative for climate mitigation.