The development of energy storage technology is important for resolving the issues and challenges of utilizing sustainable green energy in modern-day society. As an emerging technology, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are a common source of power for a wide variety of electronic devices, and major advances require the development and exploitation of new electrode materials; thus, fundamental knowledge of their atomic and nanoscale properties is necessary. By moving beyond conventional cathode candidates, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) chemistry provides an excellent direction for designing and developing promising high-performance cathode materials for use in LIBs. Here, we carry out an overarching discussion on the development and application of MOFs and their derivatives as cathodes for lithium-ion battery applications. A timely overview of the exciting progress of MOFs as well as MOF-derived metallic components is highlighted. The unique characteristics of MOFs, such as their large surface area, high tunable porosity with uniform pore size, unique structural and morphological features, controllable framework composition and low densities, combine together to provide good interfacial charge transport properties and short diffusion lengths for electrons and/or ions that adequately support electrochemical redox reactions. The progress of MOFs and their derived composites as cathode candidates for LIBs is emphasized based on their electrochemical results, while also discussing the remaining issues and potential upcoming research directions.

A comprehensive review on direct application of MOFs as cathodes and the subsequent developments of engineering of electrode material via MOF template synthesis route for lithium-ion batteries were discussed in a chronological order. The possibilities for the production of low-cost promising cathode materials derived from MOFs and further future directions were discussed at the end.