Metal-inorganic frameworks (“MIFs”) having enhanced adsorption capabilities to hydrogen, CO, CO.sub.2, hydrocarbons, and a variety of other guest molecules are disclosed. All linkers in the MIFs contain metal complexes, comprising metal atoms and inorganic or organic ligands, instead of only organic ligands as linkers in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Compared to their MOF counterparts, MIFs with carbon-free or carbon-deficient chemical structure are expected to possess enhanced thermal stability, higher catalytic activity, and higher gas affinity and selectivity.