Emerging trends in metal organic framework based materials for enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Abstract

Solar-driven conversion of CO₂ into valuable fuels presents a promising solution for mitigating global warming and cutting our reliance on fossil fuels. Despite significant research efforts, achieving efficient and highly selective CO₂ reduction continues to pose a major obstacle due to the strong bond energy of CO₂ and the diverse range of possible reduction products. Over the past decade, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with their highly tunable structures and versatile compositional characteristics, have received remarkable research interest in photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. In this review, the recent advancements in the design, synthesis, and application of MOF-based materials in photocatalytic CO₂ reduction are discussed. The unique characteristics and structural advantages of MOFs for catalytic CO₂ reduction are initially highlighted. Subsequently, the synthetic strategies used to develop MOF-based photocatalysts are summarized. Besides, various strategies employed to enhance the efficiency and selectivity of MOF-based photocatalysts for CO₂ reduction to C₁ and C₂₊ products are systematically explored. Key approaches such as linker engineering, metal node engineering, defect engineering, heterojunction construction, and the use of MOF derivatives are discussed in detail to guide the rational development of highly effective MOF-based materials for the photocatalytic reduction of CO₂. Finally, the challenges and future prospects for advancing MOF-based materials in photocatalytic CO₂ reduction are presented.