Visible-Light-Promoted CO2 Conversion Towards Sustainability: Advances Using UiO-67 MOF

Abstract

Research on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction has emerged as a transformative approach, addressing both sustainable fuel production and CO₂ utilization challenges. Among MOFs, UiO-67, constructed with a biphenyl dicarboxylate (bpdc) ligand, is an eminent class of Zr-based MOF within the UiO (University of Oslo) sub-class, possessing distinctive features such as, high surface area, inherent porosity and exceptional stability which makes it stand out superior among other sub-classes of MOFs. Its potential in the field of photocatalytic CO2 reduction is quite outstanding. For tuning their catalytic applications, various modifications of the linker molecules particularly the 2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid (bpydc) ligand can be readily achieved with transition metals or photosensitizing units. However, despite its exceptional chemistry and growing research interests, it is still very unexplored. In this review, we have discussed key strategies that have significantly enhanced the photocatalytic efficiency of UiO-67 MOF, including linker functionalization, post-synthetic modifications, defect engineering, functionalization with nanoparticles, and the anchoring of photosensitizers. Overall, this feature article highlights the exceptional utility of UiO-67 in the field of photocatalytic CO2 reduction to valuable chemical feedstocks.