Engineering MOFs-Based Homojunction Photocatalysts for Sustainable Energy and Environment

Abstract

Homojunction photocatalysts have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional heterojunction systems, addressing critical limitations such as interfacial lattice mismatch and inefficient charge carrier separation. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), with their unique structural flexibility, tunable chemistry, and intrinsic semiconductor-like behavior, serve as an ideal platform for designing high-performance homojunction photocatalysts. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in MOFs-based homojunction photocatalysts for sustainable energy production and environmental remediation. We first discuss construction strategies within pristine MOFs, including morphological engineering, hetero-phase engineering, and functional group modification, which enable precise control over electronic and interfacial properties. Next, we comprehensively analyze approaches for fabricating homojunctions from MOFs derivatives, such as hetero-phase engineering, p–n junction engineering, morphological engineering, and doping engineering, highlighting their synergistic effects on charge separation, light absorption, and redox capacity while preserving structural integrity. The applications of these MOFs-based homojunctions are then detailed, showcasing their exceptional performance in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, CO₂ reduction, and pollutant elimination (e.g., Cr(VI), antibiotics, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)), outperforming traditional heterojunction systems. Finally, we outline current challenges and future research directions, providing a roadmap for advancing MOFs-based homojunction photocatalysts toward practical implementation. This review aims to serve as a foundational reference for the rational design of next-generation photocatalytic materials for energy and environmental sustainability.