Recent Advances in the Engineering of Single-Atom Catalysts Through Metal–Organic Frameworks

Abstract

Thanks to the recent advancement in characterisation techniques, the preparation methodologies of single-atom catalysts (SACs) are increasingly unravelled and optimised. This mini-review highlights some key recent progress in the engineering of SACs within metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their catalytic applications. Briefly, the preparation methods can be categorised into (1) anchoring onto the functional ligand sites, (2) anchoring onto the nodal centres, and (3) by pyrolysis. The development of comprehensive characterisation techniques enables scientists to elucidate the structure-activity relationship of these catalysts, which aids the subsequent engineering of more superior catalytic systems at an atomistic perspective.

Metal‐Organic Frameworks Derived Electrocatalysts for Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Reduction Reaction

“…In order to overcome the above‐mentioned disadvantages, MOFs can be utilized as sacrificial templates to fabricate different conducting carbon based nanomaterials like N‐doped graphitic porous carbons, metal/metal‐oxide doped carbons and heteroatom doped carbon materials [9] . These MOF‐based composites possess hierarchical porous structures, tailorable morphologies, heteroatom doping, structural/chemical strength, better ionic and electrical conductivity, and simple surface‐functionalization than pristine MOFs [3b,6e,f,10] …”

Controlled synthesis of Bi- and tri-nuclear Cu-oxo nanoclusters on metal–organic frameworks and the structure–reactivity correlations

“…The establishment of structure-reactivity correlations between the active centres and catalytic properties is regarded as an important platform for the rational design and engineering of more superior and selective systems. In recent years, various catalytic materials with atomic precision have been fabricated to achieve exciting performance in different applications, [9][10][11] such as [Cu 3 (μ-O) 3 ] 2+ supported on MOR zeolite for the selective oxidation of methane to methanol by Lercher et al 12 , and the engineering of MIL-101(Ti)-based Cu 2 species as artificial monooxygenase by Lin et al 13 The catalytic characteristics of NCs can generally be correlated to nuclearity (number of atoms), 15 electronic (HOMO-LUMO work functions and binding affinities) 16 and geometric properties (morphology and coordination environments) 17 of the active sites. Some reaction mechanisms are governed by the adsorption configurations of the substrates.…”

Advanced Strategies in Metal‐Organic Frameworks for CO2 Capture and Separation

“…[28] The mentioned features The mentioned features are recently reported by few review articles. [29][30][31][32][33] Due to structure flexibility and tunable properties, MOFs also show breathing behavior, defects engineering property, unique toplology, hydrophobicity, and metal chelation. Therefore, a detailed, in-depth study of the structural strategies using MOFs for CO 2 separation and capture is still needed.…”

“…CO 2 separation and capture can be enhanced by fine‐tuning of pore morphology to an ideal pore size, chemical doping with electronegative/electropositive elements, chemical functionalization by various polar and N‐containing groups and by generating open‐metal in MOF [28] . The mentioned features The mentioned features are recently reported by few review articles [29–33] . Due to structure flexibility and tunable properties, MOFs also show breathing behavior, defects engineering property, unique toplology, hydrophobicity, and metal chelation.…”