Recent Advances of MOF-based single-atom photocatalysts for CO2 to solar fuels conversion under sunlight irradiation

Abstract

Solar-driven photocatalytic CO2 conversion offers a sustainable route to address energy demand and carbon emissions. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising photocatalyst platforms due to their tunable structures and well-defined coordination environments, while the incorporation of single-atom catalysts (SACs) further enhances activesite utilization, charge separation, and product selectivity. This review offers a unified perspective on MOF-based single-atom photocatalysts for CO2 conversion by focusing on the synergistic interaction between atomically dispersed metal sites and MOF frameworks. Unlike previous reports, it systematically compares different single-atom incorporation strategies and directly correlates atomic coordination environments with photocatalytic performance. By linking structure, coordination, and activity, this work provides clear design guidelines for developing efficient and durable solar-driven CO2 reduction systems.