Graphite anodes have a theoretical capacity ceiling around 372 mAh/g, and that limit is pushing researchers to look at metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as an alternative. A review in Frontiers in Batteries and Electrochemistry maps how MOFs store lithium, both as pristine frameworks and as templates for metal oxides and porous carbon. The reported lab capacities are several times higher than graphite, but the review stresses that mechanisms, not just headline numbers, need to be understood before rational design can take over. Two storage paths stand out. Lithium can bind to the organic linkers and aromatic rings, or it can drive redox reactions at metal nodes. MOF-derived materials rely more on conversion and alloying reactions, with the porous structure buffering the volume changes. Pseudocapacitance also plays a large role, with some bimetallic frameworks showing over 95 percent capacitive contribution, which matters for fast charging. Practical hurdles remain. Many high-performing frameworks use lead or other toxic elements, and most results come from coin cells rather than production-grade electrodes. The review highlights a waste-plastic-derived cobalt-zinc MOF as a greener direction, but scaling and cycle life are still open questions. For anyone tracking battery RD, this is a solid status report on whether MOFs can move beyond the lab.
