Metal-Organic Frameworks for Efficient Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

The large concentration of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere can be utilized in industrial production using effective electrocatalysts such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Due to good properties such as high surface area, designable functionality, and uniform constitution, MOFs are regarded as promising electrocatalysts for the carbon dioxide electrochemical reduction reaction (eCO₂RR). This review covers the importance, challenges, and mechanism of eCO₂RR, and simply discusses the progress in the synthesis methods and characterization of MOFs. The review also thoroughly discusses the advances of single metal-based MOFs, mixed metal-based MOFs, and MOF derivatives as electrocatalysts for efficient eCO₂RR.     

Metal-organic framework membranes: From synthesis to electrocatalytic applications

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as an emerging family of porous inorganic-organic crystal materials, exhibit widely applications in gas storage and separation, drug release, sensing, and catalysis, owing to easily adjustable pore sizes, uniformly distributed metal centers, high surface areas, and tunable functionalities. However, MOF crystal powders are usually difficult to be directly applied into specific devices because of their brittleness, insolubility and low compatibility. Therefore, to expand versatile MOF membranes with robustness and operational flexibility is urgent to satisfy practical applications. Although numerous reports have reviewed the synthesis and applications of MOF membranes, relatively few reports the electrocatalytic properties based on MOF membranes. Herein, this mini-review provides an overview of preparation of MOF membranes, including directed synthesis, secondary growth and electrochemical deposition method. Meanwhile, fabrication of ultrathin 2D MOF nanosheets those can be also defined as a kind of nanoscale MOF membranes is also mentioned. Electrocatalytic performance of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) for diverse MOF membranes/nanosheets and their derivatives are introduced.     

Nanocrystal/Metal–Organic Framework Hybrids as Electrocatalytic Platforms for CO2 Conversion

The tunable chemistry linked to the organic/inorganic components in colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) offers a rich playground to advance the fundamental understanding of materials design for various applications. Herein, we combine these two classes of materials by synthesizing NC/MOF hybrids comprising Ag NCs that are in intimate contact with Al‐PMOF ([Al₂(OH)₂(TCPP)]) (tetrakis(4‐carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP)), to form Ag@Al‐PMOF. In our hybrids, the NCs are embedded in the MOF while still preserving electrical contact with a conductive substrate. This key feature allows the investigation of the Ag@Al‐PMOFs as electrocatalysts for the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR). We show that the pristine interface between the NCs and the MOFs accounts for electronic changes in the Ag, which suppress the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and promote the CO₂RR. We also demonstrate a minor contribution of mass‐transfer effects imposed by the porous MOF layer under the chosen testing conditions. Furthermore, we find an increased morphological stability of the Ag NCs when combined with the Al‐PMOF. The synthesis method is general and applicable to other metal NCs, thus revealing a new way to think about rationally tailored electrocatalytic materials to steer selectivity and improve stability.     

Recent Approaches to Design Electrocatalysts Based on Metal–Organic Frameworks and Their Derivatives

Rational design and synthesis of efficient electrocatalysts are important constituents in addressing the currently growing provision issues. Typical reactions, which are important to catalyze in this respect, include CO₂ reduction, the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions as well as the oxygen reduction reaction. The most efficient catalysts known up‐to‐date for these processes usually contain expensive and scarce elements, substantially impeding implementation of such electrocatalysts at a larger scale. Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) and their derivatives containing affordable components and building blocks, as an emerging class of porous functional materials, have been recently attracting a great attention thanks to their tunable structure and composition together with high surface area, just to name a few. Up to now, several MOFs and MOF‐derivatives have been reported as electrode materials for the energy‐related electrocatalytic application. In this review article, we summarize and analyze current approaches to design such materials. The design strategies to improve the Faradaic efficiency and selectivity of these catalysts are discussed. Last but not least, we discuss some novel strategies to enhance the conductivity, chemical stability and efficiency of MOF‐derived electrocatalysts.     

Recent advances in single atom catalysts for the electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR) offers a promising solution to mitigate carbon emission and at the same time generate valuable carbonaceous chemicals/fuels. Single atom catalysts (SACs) are encouraging to catalyze the electrochemical CO₂RR due to the tunable electronic structure of the central metal atoms, which can regulate the adsorption energy of reactants and reaction intermediates. Moreover, SACs form a bridge between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, providing an ideal platform to explore the reaction mechanism of electrochemical reactions. In this review, we first discuss the strategies for promoting the CO₂RR performance, including suppression of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), generation of C₁ products and formation of C₂₊ products. Then, we summarize the recent developments in regulating the structure of SACs toward the CO₂RR based on the above aspects. Finally, several issues regarding the development of SACs for the CO₂RR are raised and possible solutions are provided.

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR) offers a promising solution to mitigate carbon emission and at the same time generate valuable carbonaceous chemicals/fuels.     

Advances of Metal‐Organic Frameworks in Energy and Environmental Applications

Nowadays, energy shortage and environmental pollution issues are increasingly severe and urgent to be solved. The effective storage and use of environmentally friendly fuels and removal of harmful gases from the environment are great challenges and of great importance both for the environment protection and for human health. Porous metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) are highly ordered crystalline materials formed by the self‐assembly process of metal ions and organic ligands. Their good features such as ultrahigh porosity, large surface area, structural diversity and functionalities make them promising candidates for applications in energy and environmental fields. MOF thin films and MOF composites have also been investigated to further enhance the properties and introduce new functionalities. This review provides an overview of the synthesis methods of pristine MOFs, MOF thin films and MOF composites, and significant advances of MOFs in energy and environment applications such as energy storage (H₂, CH₄), CO₂ capture and separation, adsorption removal and sensing of harmful gases in the environment.     

Polyoxometalate-based electron transfer modulation for efficient electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction

The electrocatalytic carbon dioxide (CO₂) reduction reaction (CO₂RR) involves a variety of electron transfer pathways, resulting in poor reaction selectivity, limiting its use to meet future energy requirements. Polyoxometalates (POMs) can both store and release multiple electrons in the electrochemical process, and this is expected to be an ideal “electron switch” to match with catalytically active species, realize electron transfer modulation and promote the activity and selectivity of the electrocatalytic CO₂RR. Herein, we report a series of new POM-based manganese-carbonyl (MnL) composite CO₂ reduction electrocatalysts, whereby SiW₁₂–MnL exhibits the most remarkable activity and selectivity for CO₂RR to CO, resulting in an increase in the faradaic efficiency (FE) from 65% (MnL) to a record-value of 95% in aqueous electrolyte. A series of control electrochemical experiments, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), transient photovoltage (TPV) experiments, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that POMs act as electronic regulators to control the electron transfer process from POM to MnL units during the electrochemical reaction, enhancing the selectivity of the CO₂RR to CO and depressing the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). This work demonstrates the significance of electron transfer modulation in the CO₂RR and suggests a new idea for the design of efficient electrocatalysts towards CO₂RR.

Polyoxometalates as electron regulators to promote the carbonyl manganese (MnL) electrocatalyst for highly efficient CO₂ reduction in aqueous electrolyte.     

A metal–organic framework/polymer derived catalyst containing single-atom nickel species for electrocatalysis

While metal–organic frameworks (MOF) alone offer a wide range of structural tunability, the formation of composites, through the introduction of other non-native species, like polymers, can further broaden their structure/property spectrum. Here we demonstrate that a polymer, placed inside the MOF pores, can support the collapsible MOF and help inhibit the aggregation of nickel during pyrolysis; this leads to the formation of single atom nickel species in the resulting nitrogen doped carbons, and dramatically improves the activity, CO selectivity and stability in electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction. Considering the vast number of multifarious MOFs and polymers to choose from, we believe this strategy can open up more possibilities in the field of catalyst design, and further contribute to the already expansive set of MOF applications.

A metal–organic framework/polymer derived catalyst containing single-atom nickel species shows good performance for electroreduction of CO₂ to CO.     

Thermal expansion-quench of nickel metal-organic framework into nanosheets for efficient visible light CO2 reduction

Metal-organic framework nanosheets (MOF NNs) offer potential opportunities for many applications,but an efficient strategy for the scalable preparation of few-layered two-dimensional (2D) MOF NNs are still a major challenge.Herein,we present an efficient top-down method for the synthesis of the Ni-BDC(Ni₂(OH)₂(1,4-BDC);1,4-BDC=1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) nanosheets utilizing a novel thermal expansionquench method of the flowerlike bulky MOFs in liquid N₂.The obtain...     

Isostructural NiII Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for Efficient Electrocatalysis of Oxygen Evolution Reaction and for Gas Sorption Properties

Design and synthesis of stable, active and cost-effective electrocatalyst for water splitting applications is an emerging area of research, given the depletion of fossil fuels. Herein, two isostructural Ni^II redox-active metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) containing flexible tripodal trispyridyl ligand ( L ) and linear dicarboxylates such as terephthalate (TA) and 2-aminoterphthalate (H₂NTA) are studied for their catalytic activity in oxygen evaluation reaction (OER). The 2D-layered MOFs form 3D hydrogen bonded frameworks containing one-dimensional hydrophilic channels that are filled with water molecules. The electrochemical studies reveal that MOFs display an efficient catalytic activity towards oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline conditions with an overpotential as low as 356 mV. Further, these 2D-MOFs exhibit excellent ability to adsorb water vapor (180–230 cc g⁻¹ at 273 K) and CO₂ (33 cc g⁻¹ at 273 K). The presence of hydrophilic functionality in the frameworks was found to significantly enhance the electrocatalytic activity as well as H₂O sorption.     

Anion Modulation of Pt-Group Metals and Electrocatalysis Applications

Pt-group metal (PGM) electrocatalysts with unique electronic structures and irreplaceable comprehensive properties play crucial roles in electrocatalysis. Anion engineering can create a series of PGM compounds (such as RuP₂, IrP₂, PtP₂, RuB₂, Ru₂B₃, RuS₂, etc.) that provide a promising prospect for improving the electrocatalytic performance and use of Pt-group noble metals. This review seeks the electrochemical activity origin of anion-modulated PGM compounds, and systematically analyzes and summarizes their synthetic strategies and energy-relevant applications in electrocatalysis. Orientation towards the sustainable development of nonfossil resources has stimulated a blossoming interest in the design of advanced electrocatalysts for clean energy conversion. The anion-modulated strategy for Pt-group metals (PGMs) by means of anion engineering possesses high flexibility to regulate the electronic structure, providing a promising prospect for constructing electrocatalysts with superior activity and stability to satisfy a future green electrochemical energy conversion system. Based on the previous work of our group and others, this review summarizes the up-to-date progress on anion-modulated PGM compounds (such as RuP₂, IrP₂, PtP₂, RuB₂, Ru₂B₃, RuS₂, etc.) in energy-related electrocatalysis from the origin of their activity and synthetic strategies to electrochemical applications including hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR), N₂ reduction reaction (NRR), and CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR). At the end, the key problems, countermeasures and future development orientations of anion-modulated PGM compounds toward electrocatalytic applications are proposed.     

Achievements,Challenges, and Perspectives on Nitrogen Electrochemistry for Carbon-Neutral Energy Technologies

Unrestrained anthropogenic activities have severely disrupted the global natural nitrogen cycle, causing numerous energy and environmental issues. Electrocatalytic nitrogen transformation is a feasible and promising strategy for achieving a sustainable nitrogen economy. Synergistically combining multiple nitrogen reactions can realize efficient renewable energy storage and conversion, restore the global nitrogen balance, and remediate environmental crises. Here, we provide a unique aspect to discuss the intriguing nitrogen electrochemistry by linking three essential nitrogen-containing compounds (i.e., N₂, NH₃, and NO₃⁻) and integrating four essential electrochemical reactions, i.e., the nitrogen reduction reaction (N₂RR), nitrogen oxidation reaction (N₂OR), nitrate reduction reaction (NO₃RR), and ammonia oxidation reaction (NH₃OR). This minireview also summarizes the acquired knowledge of rational catalyst design and underlying reaction mechanisms for these interlinked nitrogen reactions. We further underscore the associated clean energy technologies and a sustainable nitrogen-based economy.     

Enhancing Built-in Electric Fields for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution by Encapsulating C60 Fullerene into Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks

High-efficiency photocatalysts based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are often limited by poor charge separation and slow charge-transfer kinetics. Herein, a novel MOF photocatalyst is successfully constructed by encapsulating C₆₀ into a nano-sized zirconium-based MOF, NU-901. By virtue of host-guest interactions and uneven charge distribution, a substantial electrostatic potential difference is set-up in C₆₀@NU-901. The direct consequence is a robust built-in electric field, which tends to be 10.7 times higher in C₆₀@NU-901 than that found in NU-901. In the catalyst, photogenerated charge carriers are efficiently separated and transported to the surface. For example, photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaches 22.3 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ for C₆₀@NU-901, which is among the highest values for MOFs. Our concept of enhancing charge separation by harnessing host-guest interactions constitutes a promising strategy to design photocatalysts for efficient solar-to-chemical energy conversion.     

Combination of Optimization and Metalated‐Ligand Exchange: An Effective Approach to Functionalize UiO‐66(Zr) MOFs for CO2 Separation

The strategy to functionalize water‐stable metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in order to improve their CO₂ uptake capacities for efficient CO₂ separation remains limited and challenging. We herein present an effective approach to functionalize a prominent water‐stable MOF, UiO‐66(Zr), by a combination of optimization and metalated‐ligand exchange. In particular, by systematic optimization, we have successfully obtained UiO‐66(Zr) of the highest BET surface area reported so far (1730 m² g^?1). Moreover, it shows a hybrid Type I/IV N₂ isotherm at 77 K and a mesopore size of 3.9 nm for the first time. The UiO‐66 MOF underwent a metalated‐ligand‐exchange (MLE) process to yield a series of new UiO‐66‐type MOFs, among which UiO‐66‐(COONa)₂‐EX and UiO‐66‐(COOLi)₄‐EX MOFs have both enhanced CO₂ working capacity and IAST CO₂/N₂ selectivity. Our approach has thus suggested an alternative design to achieve water‐stable MOFs with high crystallinity and gas uptake for efficient CO₂ separation.     

Silica-Derived Nanostructured Electrode Materials for ORR,OER, HER,CO2RR Electrocatalysis,and Energy Storage Applications: A Review**

Silica-derived nanostructured catalysts (SDNCs) are a class of materials synthesized using nanocasting and templating techniques, which involve the sacrificial removal of a silica template to generate highly porous nanostructured materials. The surface of these nanostructures is functionalized with a variety of electrocatalytically active metal and non-metal atoms. SDNCs have attracted considerable attention due to their unique physicochemical properties, tunable electronic configuration, and microstructure. These properties make them highly efficient catalysts and promising electrode materials for next generation electrocatalysis, energy conversion, and energy storage technologies. The continued development of SDNCs is likely to lead to new and improved electrocatalysts and electrode materials. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in the development of SDNCs for electrocatalysis and energy storage applications. It analyzes 337,061 research articles published in the Web of Science (WoS) database up to December 2022 using the keywords “silica”, “electrocatalysts”, “ORR”, “OER”, “HER”, “HOR”, “CO₂RR”, “batteries”, and “supercapacitors”. The review discusses the application of SDNCs for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR), supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, and thermal energy storage applications. It concludes by discussing the advantages and limitations of SDNCs for energy applications.     

Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Ethanol: An Approach to Transforming Greenhouse Gas to Fuel Source

Converting carbon dioxide (CO₂) into high-value fuels or chemicals is considered as a promising way to utilize CO₂ and alleviate the excessive greenhouse gas emission. Among multiple catalysis approaches, electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to ethanol has an important prospect due to the high energy density and widely applications of ethanol. In recent years, many electrocatalysts for CO₂ reduce reaction (CO₂RR) have shown promising catalytic activity for ethanol production. In this review, we will introduce the recent progress in this field. The basic principles and electrochemical performances of CO₂RR are reviewed at first. Then, several categories of active electrocatalysts for CO₂RR to ethanol are summarized, including the discussion of reaction mechanism and catalytic sites. Finally, several possible strategies are proposed, providing guidance for future design and preparation of high-performance catalysts.     

Thermodynamics of the oxygen evolution electrocatalysis in a functionalized UiO‐66 metal‐organic frameworks

A density functional theory (DFT) approach was used to predict the thermodynamic energy barriers of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) for three functionalized Metal‐organic Frameworks (MOFs). A UiO‐66(Zr) MOF design was selected for this study that incorporates three linker designs, a 1,4‐benzenedicarboxylate (BDC), BDC functionalized with an amino group (BDC + NH₂), and BDC functionalized with nitro group (BDC + NO₂). The study found several key differences between homogeneous planar catalyst thermodynamics and MOF‐based thermodynamics, the most significant being the non‐unique or heterogeneity of reaction sites. Additionally, the functionalization of the MOF was found to significantly influence the hydroperoxyl binding energy, which proves to be the largest hurdle for both oxide and MOF‐based catalyst. Both of these findings provide evidence that many of the limitations precluding planar homogeneous catalysts can be surpassed with a MOF‐based catalyst. The BDC + NH₂ proved to be the best performing catalyst with a predicted over‐potential for spontaneous OER evolution to be 3.03eV. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Metal–Organic Framework for Emulsifying Carbon Dioxide and Water

Forming emulsions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water can largely expand the utility of CO₂. Herein we propose for the first time the utilization of a metal–organic framework (MOF) for emulsifying CO₂ and water. Owing to the hybrid composition, MOF particles can easily assemble at the CO₂/water interface to create a rigid protective barrier around the dispersed droplet. The MOF‐stabilized CO₂ and water emulsion has exceptional stability compared to those emulsions stabilized by surfactants or other solids. Moreover, the CO₂ and water emulsion stabilized by MOF is “tunable” due to the designable features of MOFs and adjustable character of CO₂. Such a novel kind of emulsion composed of CO₂, water, and MOF provides a facile route for constructing MOF superstructures with many advantages. The macroporous networks and hollow capsules of different kinds of MOFs have been successfully derived from CO₂ and water emulsions.     

Metal–Organic Frameworks for Electrocatalytic Sensing of Hydrogen Peroxide

The electrochemical detection of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) has become more and more important in industrial production, daily life, biological process, green energy chemistry, and other fields (especially for the detection of low concentration of H₂O_2). Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising candidates to replace the established H₂O₂ sensors based on precious metals or enzymes. This review summarizes recent advances in MOF-based H₂O₂ electrochemical sensors, including conductive MOFs, MOFs with chemical modifications, MOFs-composites, and MOF derivatives. Finally, the challenges and prospects for the optimization and design of H₂O₂ electrochemical sensors with ultra-low detection limit and long-life are presented.     

Design and Synthesis of a Water‐Stable Anionic Uranium‐Based Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) with Ultra Large Pores

Ionic metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a subclass of porous materials that have the ability to incorporate different charged species in confined nanospace by ion‐exchange. To date, however, very few examples combining mesoporosity and water stability have been realized in ionic MOF chemistry. Herein, we report the rational design and synthesis of a water‐stable anionic mesoporous MOF based on uranium and featuring tbo‐type topology. The resulting tbo MOF exhibits exceptionally large open cavities (3.9 nm) exceeding those of all known anionic MOFs. By supercritical CO₂ activation, a record‐high Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) surface area (2100 m² g^?1) for actinide‐based MOFs has been obtained. Most importantly, however, this new uranium‐based MOF is water‐stable and able to absorb positively charged ions selectively over negatively charged ones, enabling the efficient separation of organic dyes and biomolecules.