Metal-organic Frameworks (MOF) Market

Metal-organic Frameworks (MOF) Market Synopsis

Metal-organic Frameworks (MOF) Market Size Was Valued at USD 723.18 Million in 2023, and is Projected to Reach USD 1,999.00 Million by 2032, Growing at a CAGR of 11.96% From 2024-2032.

Metal organic structures are a class of porous materials which are related to metal ions or clusters linked to organic ligands. For their high surface area, controllable pore size and adjustable chemical composition, these materials have potential applications in gas storage, catalysis, drug delivery system and environmental treatment.

The Metal-organic Frameworks (MOF) market is growing incredibly fast because of these remarkable characteristics that make them applicable in multiple business segments, energy and environmental and medical. Design of MOFs involves connecting metal nodes with some organic ligands to produce well ordered structures with large accessible surface area. These distinctive characteristics make use of these materials convenient for the following uses, for instance, storage of gasses, water purification, sensing, and catalysis. For example, an increasing need for materials capable of storing gases such as hydrogen and carbon dioxide has greatly enhanced the MOF market. Also, MOFs have brought promise in drug delivery because the frameworks can be surface modified to encapsulate therapeutic molecules so that drug delivery is well targeted.

Another factor is also associated with the enhanced uptake of sustainable and green technologies, of which MOFs can be used in processes such as purification of water and capture of carbon. More recent advances in synthesis have made MOFs more stable chemistries and also more easily scaled up and thus more suitable for comm retail use. While the current MOFs are still quite diverse, the research community continues to develop new structures for MOFs which can be tailored to increase application performance, which is a strong development for the market. Industrial application of MOFs is on the rise due to a rising demand for better solutions such as advanced catalysts/ adsorbents and efficient separation techniques. This trend is expected to continue as the application of MOFs is extending in the future due to Identification of the Versatility of MOFs.

Metal-organic Frameworks (MOF) Market Outlook, 2023 and 2032: Future Outlook

Metal-organic Frameworks (MOF) Market Trend Analysis

Trend: Advancements in Synthesis and Stability

The market is a rapidly evolving one and a trend caters to the evolution of synthesis processes that improves the stability and scalability of MOFs. Initially, MOFs were synthesized in their early stage which were not only unstable but also difficult to synthesize in large scale which hindered its use in the industrial fields. Nevertheless, it has become easy for chemists to develop new designs of MOFs, and the fabrication methods for manufacturing these MOFs have also improved, leading to more stable MOFs that are fit for commercialization. To date, tremendous efforts are directed on enhancing the synthesis protocol to achieve less expensive and even higher performing MOFs, especially for high temperature and high pressure application in which stability is of primary importance.

Due to these enhancements, the MOF market is attracting new focus from various sectors including gas storage, catalysis, and environmental conservation. The improved stability signifies an increased ability of MOFs to be utilised for longer times and under high stresses such as in industrial scale gas separation or Water treatment plants. Also, it is considered that creating more stable MOFs will lead to cost optimization because it may be used for multiple cycles and is not similar to traditional catalysts that require consistent replacement or maintenance, the long-term economic entity of manufacturers.

Opportunity: Application in Gas Storage and Separation

Gas storage and separation is a particularly relevant opportunity within the market for Metal-organic Frameworks (MOFs). MOFs are famous for capturing and storing gases like hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide to very high capacities because of the large surface area and adaptable pore size. This capability make MOFs an interesting candidate to meet energy storage and environmental related issues. For instance, MOFs could be particularly valuable for storage and transportation of hydrogen for use in fuel cells for the shift from fossil energy.

The curiosity in cars with less carbon emission and energy efficient products is also increasing the use of MOF in carbon capture solutions. Presently, application of MOFs to absorb and sequester CO2 from emitted gases from industries is being investigated in their contribution to combating climate change. Given the current and ongoing efforts by governments and industries to decrease global carbon dioxide emission, the application of MOFs for gas storage and separation as part of sustainable energy solution and environmental management, will continue to create significant market growth opportunities.

Driver: Demand for Clean and Sustainable Technologies

The higher demand for clean and sustainable technologies is one of the factors that has also led to the market growth of Metal-organic Frameworks (MOF). Over the years, MOFs have been shown to have immense opportunities in solving some of the world’s issues that include capturing of carbon, purification of water and storage of energy. As upstream materials for the adsorption and storage of gases and as catalysts, they provide a way of minimising pollution and optimising the utilisation of resources. New opportunities are emerging for the use of MOFs in various industries due to the increasing use of green technologies around the world, thanks to environmental legislation and urgent global climate change issues.

For example, in energy application, MOFs are being investigated as storage material for hydrogen characterized by efficiency and safety over the conventional storage within tanks. In the environmental application category, the MOFs can be applied in water treatment processes as well as in air treatment processes to filter out dangerous pollutants. The increasing concerns towards sustainability and circular economy will inherently increase the demand for MOFs which are projected to be central to future technology in clean energy, environment, and industrial processes.

Restraints: High Production Costs

One of the major limitations to the general endorsement of Metal-organic Frameworks (MOFs) is the high costs of manufacturing. Most MOFs are synthesized at relatively high cost since the starting materials are quite expensive and the processes of developing the required structural properties are complex in many cases. These factors lead to the total cost of MOFs and render MOFs not so cost-effective compared to other materials and therefore unsuitable for use in certain applications, particularly where costs are considerably sensitive. While the choice of synthesis methods has evolved over the years, the large scale production of MOFs is still relatively costly.

This cost factor greatly hinders the application of MOFs in industries that may benefit from the features of MOFs, say energy storage or environmental applications since the cost of creating the MOFs becomes a greater barrier to their implementation. It can also be concluded that, as the market expands, manufacturers are working to create more efficient syntheses and seeking out other cost effective materials to provide affordable MOFs for use. Nevertheless, the high costs are still a major determinant that may hinder the continued use of MOFs in other fields such as those in the developing world where concerns over costs are paramount.

Metal-organic Frameworks (MOF) Market Segment Analysis

Metal-organic Frameworks (MOF) Market Segmented on the basis of type, application and end user.

By Type

o   Microporous MOFs

o   Mesoporous MOFs

o   Macroporous MOFs

By Application

o   Gas Storage

o   Catalysis

o   Drug Delivery

o   Water Purification

o   Sensing

o   Others

By Region

o   North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)

o   Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Rest of Eastern Europe)

o   Western Europe (Germany, UK, France, Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Spain, Rest of Western Europe)

o   Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, The Philippines, Australia, New-Zealand, Rest of APAC)

o   Middle East & Africa (Turkey, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Israel, South Africa)

o   South America (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of SA)

By Type, Microporous MOFs segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period

The Metal-organic Frameworks (MOF) market is segmented based on the size of the pores, with three primary types: the first one is microporous, mesoporous, and macroporous metal–organic frameworks. Microporous MOFs especially those with pore diameter of less than 2 nm exhibit excellent performance in applications that involve small molecule adsorption related to gas storage and separation. These MOFs have large external surfaces and selectivity in adsorption which makes them suitable for sociable gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen. However, due to their narrow pore size, their use may be limited in applications where larger molecules have to be encapsulated or delivered.

Specifically, mesoporous MOFs where the pore size ranges from 2 nm to 50 nm appear to be receiving more attention because of their applicability. Porous organic polymers provide a good compromise between surface area and pore size, which can be prestigious for large molecules such as catalysis, drug delivery, and sensing. Macroporous MOFs with pore size of greater than fifty nanometers are currently in the view of being applied in system where high permeability and quick movement of big molecules or particle is needed. The type of MOF depends on the particular application; microporous MOFs are used most regularly for gas storage applications, while mesoporous and macroporous MOFs are more recent, used in catalytic and drug delivery applications respectively.

By Application, Gas Storage segment expected to held the largest share 

Various applications of the Metal-organic Frameworks (MOFs) are in distinct segments, with preferred requirements of gas storage, catalysis, drug delivery, water purification, and sensing the industries that obtain the most attention. The usage of MOFs for gaseous storage is one of the oldest and most successful applications especially for hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide. This is because MOFs can store gases to very high densities; thus, it finds many applications in fuel cells, natural gas storage and carbon capture. Catalysis is another important area since MOFs can be designed to promote specific chemical transformations with high selectivity, including hydrogenation reactions, oxidation reactions and carbon dioxide utilization.

In the healthcare industry, the advancement towards the use of MOFs is being considered for the delivery of drugs because of its enormous surface area and its capacity to encapsulate and release therapeutic molecules. Still, other possible and emerging applications include water treatment, in which MOFs can selectively adsorb various impurities including heavy metals and organic pollutants from the water. Other application is sensing application; MOFs can be tailored to selectively respond to a particular molecule in its surroundings, perfect for sensing applications in air quality, health diagnosis and beyond.

Metal-organic Frameworks (MOF) Market Regional Insights

North America is Expected to Dominate the Market Over the Forecast period 

North America is likely to be the largest consumer of MOF since it has a robust R&D setup, has invested significantly in production and development of advanced material and has the increasing trend towards the adoption of clean technology. Particularly famous is the United States with its strong industrial potential and a large number of famous universities and research centers that actively contribute to the development of new methods for synthesizing MOFs and their application. The region has also emphasized the use of safe and clean energy, health care and environmental conservation this has promoted the use of MOFs in many sectors.

There is strong governmental backing and financial support for research in the North American market towards new materials and growing concerns for environment friendly technologies like, carbon capture and hydrogen storage. Some of the major players operating in MOF industry are also present in North America which along with the availability of suitable regulatory polity offers a bright future to Metal-organic Frameworks market. New applications of MOFs are likely to emerge as more companies focus on sustainability and efficiency in industries in the region; the position of North America will remain strong in the global MOF market.

Metal-organic Frameworks (MOF) Market Share, by Geography, 2023 (%)

Active Key Players in the Metal-organic Frameworks (MOF) Market

o   BASF (Germany)

o   MOF Technologies (UK)

o   UOP Honeywell (USA)

o   Inovenso (Turkey)

o   Chem-Adsorb (USA)

o   Strem Chemicals (USA)

o   NuMat Technologies (USA)

o   Metalysis (UK)

o   Crystalloids (Germany)

o   Adsorption Technologies (USA)

o   Jinan Yuxi (China)

o   UBE Industries (Japan)

o   Other key Players

Key Industry Developments in the Metal-organic Frameworks (MOF) Market

In April 2024, Baker Hughes acquired Mosaic Materials. This acquisition is made to use Mosaic’s metal-organic framework (MOF) technology for the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere.

In October 2023, BASF SE announced the launch of metal-organic frameworks for carbon capture on a commercial scale.

In May 2023, CD Bioparticles launched customized Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOF) materials. These MOFs find application in gas and liquid adsorption, drug delivery, catalysis, gas storage, and sensing and detection.

Global Metal-organic Frameworks (MOF) Market Scope