Metal‐Organic‐Frameworks and Their Derived Materials in Photo‐Thermal Catalysis

Abstract

The direct utilization of light to drive chemical reactions has been considered a promising approach to decarbonizing the chemical industry and storing solar energy in the form of chemical bonds. In this regard, photo-thermal catalysis has emerged as a bright strategy due to the combination of thermal and non-thermal contributions of sunlight. This enables the whole exploitation of the solar spectrum providing localized heating and thus an enhancement in the productivity rates. In this scenario, MOFs and MOFs-derived materials offer great opportunities for the rational design of new photo-thermal catalysts. In this review, we describe the different types of photo-thermal systems, with a particular consideration on the mechanisms. Further, we describe the recent advances of MOF and MOF-derived materials as photo-thermal catalysts for different catalytic reactions, including organic transformations, pollutant degradation or CO 2 hydrogenations. Lastly, we present our opinion on the future challenges and perspectives in the field.

Self-adaptive Metal–Organic Framework Assembles Di-iron Active Sites to Mimic Monooxygenases

“…Constructed from metal cluster secondary building units (SBUs) and organic linkers, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted significant attention due to their crystalline structures, high porosity, and molecular tunability. In the past few years, many MOF catalysts have been developed by incorporating catalytic species into SBUs or linkers, leading to extraordinary catalytic efficiency. − …”

Solar Gas-Phase CO2 Hydrogenation by Multifunctional UiO-66 Photocatalysts

“…Based on previous reports, photocatalytic CO 2 reduction using metal/metal oxide NPs supported on MOFs or other materials can occur via photochemical , and/or photothermal reaction mechanisms. ,,− During the photochemical pathway, the irradiation of the photocatalysts results in the formation of reducing and oxidizing electron and hole pairs, respectively. This is a common reaction mechanism found when using MOFs as photocatalysts when their irradiation by appropriate wavelengths produces photoinduced electron transfer from the organic ligand to the metal node .…”

“…Based on previous studies and due to the use of RuO x NPs as cocatalysts during photocatalytic CO 2 reduction, the occurrence of a photothermal pathway can be hypothesized in which light energy is transformed into heat energy. − An indirect experiment to determine this possible pathway was conducted by evaluating photocatalytic CO 2 methanation as a function of the simulated sunlight intensity. Figure shows that photocatalytic methane production increases linearly as a function of irradiance intensity up to about 125 mW/cm 2 , and then an exponential relationship can be seen.…”

Challenges and opportunities for the photo-(thermal) synthesis of ammonia

“…11 The combination of carbonaceous supports with highly dispersed metal nanoparticles makes MOF-derived materials a very attractive family of catalysts for photo-thermal applications. 167…”