A new efficient catalyst: Metal-organic frameworks in electrocatalysis

School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 200237 Shanghai, China.

^* Yue XIAO: 21013770@mail.ecust.edu.cn

Abstract

Global warming and ecological degradation are becoming major environmental problems in the world today. To reduce energy loss and advocate green chemistry, the development of new energy sources is very important. Electrocatalytic technology has low environmental pollution and carbon emission because only electrons are involved and there is no need to add external fuel. And metal-organic framework (MOF), with its porous structure and large surface area, can provide an ideal reaction platform for electrocatalytic reactions. This paper first introduces the discovery and development of MOF materials, followed by a discussion of the current methods for designing MOFs from several perspectives, including pore size, conductivity, and active sites. Then the development of MOF materials with transition metal ions was analysed from the perspective of the elements Fe, Co, and Ni, which exhibit higher reaction rates in comparison with ordinary MOF materials in hydrogen precipitation reaction, oxygen absorption reaction and other reactions. Finally, this paper introduced several synthetic ideas and methods of MOF and reviewed the methods to synthesise MOF electrocatalytic materials.