Research progress on MOFs and their derivatives as promising and efficient electrode materials for electrocatalytic hydrogen production from water

Hydrogen energy is considered to be the most potential ultimate energy source due to its high combustion calorific value, cleanliness, and pollution-free characteristics. Furthermore, the production of hydrogen via the electrolysis of water has the advantages of simplicity, high efficiency, environmentally safe, and high-purity hydrogen. However, it is also associated with issues such as high-power consumption for the reaction and limited large-scale application of noble metal catalysts. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous composite materials composed of metal ions and organic functional groups through orderly coordination with large specific surface areas and large porosity. Herein, we focus on the research status of MOFs and their transition metal derivatives for electrocatalytic water splitting to produce hydrogen and briefly describe the reaction mechanism and evaluation parameters of the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution and oxygen evolution reactions. Furthermore, the relationship between the catalytic behavior and catalytic activity of different MOF-based catalysts and their morphology, elemental composition, and synthetic strategy is analyzed and discussed. The reasons for the excellent activity and poor stability of the original MOF materials for the electrolysis of water reaction are shown through analysis, and using various means to improve the catalytic activity by changing the electronic structure, active sites, and charge transfer rate, MOF-based catalysts were obtained. Finally, we present perspectives on the future development of MOFs for the electrocatalytic decomposition of water.

Automated summary

Hydrogen energy is considered the most promising ultimate energy source due to its high combustion value, cleanliness, and lack of pollution. Electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen has advantages of simplicity, high efficiency, environmental safety, and high-purity hydrogen. However, challenges such as high power consumption and limited large-scale application of catalysts hinder its widespread use. This paper focuses on the research status of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their derivatives for electrocatalytic water splitting, analyzing the relationship between catalytic behavior and catalyst activity as well as proposing strategies to improve catalytic activity. Future development perspectives for MOFs in electrocatalytic water decomposition are also presented.