Recent Progress of Modulating Pristine Metal–Organic Frameworks for Oxygen Reaction Revolution

Abstract

Highly efficient and stable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts are essential for electrochemical water splitting. Among non-noble metal-based catalysts, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently emerged as particularly promising candidates due to their exceptional surface areas, hierarchical porous structures, and tunable morphologies and compositions. The rational regulation of the morphology and electronic structure of pristine MOFs is considered a critical pathway for enhancing active sites and structural stability, thereby significantly boosting the OER catalytic performance. This review systematically presents the recent advancements in modulating pristine MOFs via heterogeneous metal doping, ligand substitution, and hybrid composite construction. With particular emphasis on synthetic methods, modification mechanisms, and the OER properties of MOFs, we analyze the fundamental relationships between structural modifications and electrocatalytic performance. Through the systematic analysis of existing research achievements, this review provides a holistic assessment of current state-of-the-art developments, identifies critical challenges, and proposes future research directions with practical implications for OER electrocatalyst design.