ABSTRACT: Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as a distinctive class of porous materials, prized for their exceptionally high surface areas, tunable porosity, and chemical versatility. These attributes position MOFs as promising candidates for diverse applications, including gas storage, catalysis, and environmental remediation. However, conventional MOF synthesis relies heavily on high-purity metal salts and fossil-derived organic linkers; resources that are costly, environmentally burdensome, and a major barrier to commercial scalability. In response, recent research has begun to challenge this paradigm by exploring unconventional feedstocks. My talk will focus on the latest advances and persistent challenges in using alternative precursors such as metal-rich industrial waste materials, waste PET-derived organic linkers, biomass-derived linkers, among others. I will present a systematic classification of these precursors based on their chemical composition and synthetic suitability, and critically assess how these precursors influence MOF structure, porosity, and functional performance. Furthermore, I will highlight our group’s ongoing contributions to this field, with a particular emphasis on energy-related applications, including but not limited to clean energy storage and catalytic energy conversion. I will also briefly share our efforts in upscaling and induction of application-specific properties as we drive this technology towards real-world applications. By bridging sustainable Materials Chemistry with engineering aspects, this talk aims to outline an attractive pathway toward greener, more economically feasible MOF production.

Date: 26 June 2026

Time: 10h00

Venue: Physics Department Computer LAN, Main Science Building, Level 2, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.

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