Coordination structure engineering of single atoms derived from MOFs for Electrocatalysis

Abstract

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted increasing attention as potential precursors for the synthesis of single atom catalysts (SACs) due to the high specific surface area, adjustable pore size, and ligand structure. Although significant efforts have been made to synthesize MOFs-derived SACs for electrocatalysis, it is still lack of fundamental regulation principles which governing the intrinsic electrocatalytic performance. In this review, the recent advancements in various MOFs-derived SACs are systematically summarized. The correlation between the central metal atoms, coordination atoms, local environment, morphology, and their corresponding electrocatalytic performance, including activity, selectivity and stability, is comprehensively analyzed. Furthermore, advanced characterization techniques are summarized to elucidate the ligand configuration of MOFs-derived SACs. Finally, the major challenges and future research directions for MOFs-derived SACs are proposed. This review provides a comprehensive understanding and updated information on the design of MOFs-derived SACs with well-confined coordination structures.