Design Engineering, Synthesis Protocols, and Energy Applications of MOF-Derived Electrocatalysts

Abstract

The core reactions for fuel cells, rechargeable metal–air batteries, and hydrogen fuel production are the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which are heavily dependent on the efficiency of electrocatalysts. Enormous attempts have previously been devoted in non-noble electrocatalysts born out of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for ORR, OER, and HER applications, due to the following advantageous reasons: (i) The significant porosity eases the electrolyte diffusion; (ii) the supreme catalyst–electrolyte contact area enhances the diffusion efficiency; and (iii) the electronic conductivity can be extensively increased owing to the unique construction block subunits for MOFs-derived electrocatalysis. Herein, the recent progress of MOFs-derived electrocatalysts including synthesis protocols, design engineering, DFT calculations roles, and energy applications is discussed and reviewed. It can be concluded that the elevated ORR, OER, and HER performances are attributed to an advantageously well-designed high-porosity structure, significant surface area, and plentiful active centers. Furthermore, the perspectives of MOF-derived electrocatalysts for the ORR, OER, and HER are presented.

MOF-derived nanoarrays as advanced electrocatalysts for water splitting

“…[10][11][12] It is noteworthy that MOF-derived nanoarrays are able to combine the merits of both MOF-derived materials and nanoarray structures, thus showing great potential for electrochemical water splitting. To date, there have been some reviews on MOF-derived electrocatalysts 2,5,8,9,[13][14][15][16][17][18] and self-supported nanoarray electrocatalysts. 11,12,[19][20][21] However, none of them have specially focused on MOF-derived nanoarrays for electrocatalytic water splitting processes.…”

Hollow Carbon Sphere and Polyhedral Carbon Composites Supported Iron Nanoparticles as Excellent Bifunctional Electrocatalysts of Zn–Air Battery

“…[32] Also, MOFs are composed of inorganic subunits, such as layers, clusters, chains, or 3D arrangements, and are strongly bonded to organic binders with complex groups (phosphonates, carboxylates, N-containing compounds), resulting in a 3D hybrid framework. [33,34] These characteristics result in the excellent improvement in the onset potential, half-slope potential (E 1/2 ), and durability of ORR performance. [35][36][37] However, MOF materials generally present lower ORR current density, which would be ascribed to their less electrochemical active surface areas.…”

Plasma-induced transformation: a new strategy to in situ engineer MOF-derived heterointerface for high-efficiency electrochemical hydrogen evolution

“…[24][25][26][27] It is still an open question whether MOFs can be used as precursors to produce TMN-based heterostructure through nitrogen plasma. 28 Herein, Co-MOF is subjected to the treatment of electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) enhanced microwave plasma in nitrogen to in situ engineer Co 4 N-Co 3 O 4 heterostructure in amorphous carbon matrix (Co 4 N-Co 3 O 4 -C) on carbon cloth (CC). Different from the common chemical nitridation process, the plasma-induced transformation approach developed in this work is simple, rapid, and environmentally friendly.…”