Recent trends in CO2 electroreduction over metal–organic framework-derived materials: a comprehensive review

Abstract

Carbon dioxide reduction through electrochemical energy is an emerging and appealing approach towards CO₂ mitigation, and it is a potential technique in which the current and faradaic efficiencies can be optimized for the efficient/effective conversion of CO₂ to solar fuel (storable high-density chemical energy). However, a challenge associated with the current state-of-the-art electrocatalytic systems is developing efficient, selective, and cost-effective heterogeneous catalysts. In this case, materials derived from metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising electrocatalysts that not only possess porous structures similar to their parent MOFs but are also endowed with improved stability and conductivity, which are required in the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR). This review surveys the updated strategies to rationally design efficient MOF-based electrocatalysts and MOF-derived materials for CO₂ reduction. Various MOF-derived materials are comprehensively discussed, together with the strategies aimed at improving product selectivity. Furthermore, active sites and detailed underlying mechanisms of CO₂ reduction are discussed to gain better insights into the future development of electrocatalysts. This investigation aims to highlight the recent advances in the CO₂RR to inspire the development of new techniques in designing electrocatalysts based on MOF structures with high performance and high stability.