Nanoengineering Metal-Organic Framework-Based Materials for Use in Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Reactions

Electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to valuable chemicals is a sustainable technology that can achieve a carbon-neutral energy cycle in the environment. Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) processes using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), featuring atomically dispersed active sites, large surface area, high porosity, controllable morphology, and remarkable tunability, have attracted considerable research attention. Well-defined MOFs can be constructed to improve conductivity, introduce active centers, and form carbon-based single-atom catalysts (SACs) with enhanced active sites that are accessible for the development of CO2 conversion. In this review, the progress on pristine MOFs, MOF hybrids, and MOF-derived carbon-based SACs is summarized for the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2. Finally, the limitations and potential improvement directions with respect to the advancement of MOF-related materials for the field of research are discussed. These summaries are expected to provide inspiration on reasonable design to develop stable and high-efficiency MOFs-based electrocatalysts for CO2RR.

Automated summary

Using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) processes has attracted considerable research attention due to their atomically dispersed active sites, large surface area, high porosity, controllable morphology, and remarkable tunability. The improvement of conductivity, introduction of active centers, and formation of carbon-based single-atom catalysts (SACs) from well-defined MOFs have been explored for the development of CO2 conversion. The review summarizes the progress on pristine MOFs, MOF hybrids, and MOF-derived carbon-based SACs for the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2, and discusses the limitations and potential improvement directions in this field of research.