Flexible Metal–Organic Frameworks as CO₂ Adsorbents en Route to Energy‐Efficient Carbon Capture

Innovation in the realm of adsorbents for carbon capture is a necessity for meeting the carbon neutrality goal by 2060. Flexible metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) hold great promise for energy‐efficient carbon capture as a direct result of their high working capacity, high selectivity, and intrinsic thermal management during gate‐opening adsorption. In this review, the development and recent progress of flexible MOFs are summarized, the reported methods for control over flexibility are outlined, and the challenges and potential solutions of these materials toward practical carbon capture are discussed. It is envisioned that a deep molecular understanding of the adsorption mechanism in conjunction with a handle over gate‐opening phenomena is a critical element for promoting the performance and large‐scale application of flexible MOFs.