Post-Synthetic Modification Strategies for Enhancing CO₂ Capture Performance on Metal–Organic Frameworks: A Review of Progress, Challenges, and Future Opportunities

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are defined as porous materials utilized for the molecular adsorption, offering exceptionally high surface areas, tunable pore structures, and chemical versatility that make them promising adsorbents for post-combustion carbon capture. Nevertheless, pristine MOFs often exhibit limitations, such as insufficient CO₂ selectivity and high sensitivity to humidity and temperature. These limitations restrict their potential practical application. To overcome these challenges, post-synthetic modification (PSM) has emerged as an effective strategy for tailoring MOF properties after synthesis by introducing functional groups or active sites without disrupting the framework structure. The effects of different functionalization approaches on adsorption mechanisms are discussed, together with the advantages of PSM over alternative modification methods. In addition, this review emphasizes current challenges associated with industrial implementation, including systems complexity, long-term stability, and large-scale production. By summarizing recent advances and remaining limitations, we demonstrate the significant potential of post-synthetically modified MOFs for developing efficient, selective, and sustainable carbon capture technologies.