Recent Advances in Metal–Organic Frameworks Derived Nanocomposites for Photocatalytic Applications in Energy and Environment

Abstract

Solar energy is a key sustainable energy resource, and materials with optimal properties are essential for efficient solar energy-driven applications in photocatalysis. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are excellent platforms to generate different nanocomposites comprising metals, oxides, chalcogenides, phosphides, or carbides embedded in porous carbon matrix. These MOF derived nanocomposites offer symbiosis of properties like high crystallinities, inherited morphologies, controllable dimensions, and tunable textural properties. Particularly, adjustable energy band positions achieved by in situ tailored self/external doping and controllable surface functionalities make these nanocomposites promising photocatalysts. Despite some progress in this field, fundamental questions remain to be addressed to further understand the relationship between the structures, properties, and photocatalytic performance of nanocomposites. In this review, different synthesis approaches including self-template and external-template methods to produce MOF derived nanocomposites with various dimensions (0D, 1D, 2D, or 3D), morphologies, chemical compositions, energy bandgaps, and surface functionalities are comprehensively summarized and analyzed. The state-of-the-art progress in the applications of MOF derived nanocomposites in photocatalytic water splitting for H 2 generation, photodegradation of organic pollutants, and photocatalytic CO 2 reduction are systemically reviewed. The relationships between the nanocomposite properties and their photocatalytic performance are highlighted, and the perspectives of MOF derived nanocomposites for photocatalytic applications are also discussed.

Hierarchically Porous ZnO/g-C3N4 S-Scheme Heterojunction Photocatalyst for Efficient H2O2 Production

“… Many methods have been developed and applied to prepare ZnO, including a hydrothermal method, a sol–gel method, and an electrodeposition method . Notably, MOF-derived oxides have distinctive morphology, hierarchical porosity, and component uniformity, making them unique from other synthetic methods. , The construction of the hierarchical porous structure not only is beneficial to the transport of substances but also significantly increases the specific surface area of the photocatalyst, providing more active sites for the photocatalytic reaction. Hence, it is promising to boost the photocatalytic H 2 O 2 production activity by constructing an S-scheme heterojunction between MOF-derived ZnO and g-C 3 N 4 .…”

Rational Design of Metal–Organic Framework‐Based Materials for Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction

“…In this case, with the inherited porous structures and higher stability over their parent MOFs, the derivatives of MOFs could afford good activity and cyclability in photocatalytic CO 2 RR. [24] Moreover, due to the highly tunable structures of the parent MOFs, multiple types of heterojunctions based on semiconductors can be obtained, which can show benefits for light absorption and charge transfer process. [25] Gas-liquid-solid reaction systems with the gas (CO 2 )-solvent/ sacrificial agent-photocatalyst interphase is usually used in the photocatalytic CO 2 RR over MOF-based photocatalysts.…”

Single-atom catalysts for high-efficiency photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical water splitting: distinctive roles, unique fabrication methods and specific design strategies

“…During the past decade, tremendous efforts have been devoted to the design and development of new photo(electro) catalysts with excellent activity for photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical water splitting. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] The photo(electro)catalytic activity is determined by two factors, the number of active sites and the intrinsic activity of each active site. 18,19 These two factors can be simultaneously enhanced by reducing the particle sizes of photo(electro)catalysts, increasing the number of active sites by using a high-surface-area substrate and enhancing the intrinsic activity of active sites by tailoring the electronic structure and surface properties based on the quantum-size effect.…”