Strategies for improving oxygen evolution performance of MOF nanoarrays

Abstract

The design of efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial for addressing global energy challenges, yet remains a significant scientific hurdle. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as particularly promising OER catalysts due to their unique structural advantages, including well-defined porosity, numerous accessible metal sites, and tunable architectures. Recent advances in MOF nanoarrays - where MOFs are directly grown on conductive substrates - have demonstrated enhanced electrical conductivity and increased electroactive site accessibility, leading to substantially improved electrocatalytic performance. This Frontier article summarizes innovative strategies to enhance the OER performance of MOF nanoarrays, focusing on two key approaches of metal center-based regulation and advanced interface engineering. Additionally, current challenges and potential solutions have been discussed to advance their practical implementation in energy conversion technologies.