Tunable quantum dots-modified metal-organic frameworks for photocatalytic conversion of CO2 to fuels and chemicals: a review.

Abstract

Harnessing CO₂ from air, oceans, and emissions, combined with low-cost renewable energy, facilitates the production of fuels and chemicals on demand, closing the carbon cycle. Photocatalytic CO₂ conversion utilizes sunlight to transform CO₂ into valuable products. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with tunable chemistries and morphologies offer promising energy-efficient pathways for CO₂ conversion to CO, CH₄, and CH₃OH. A new class of materials-quantum dot (QD)-modified MOFs-emerges as a powerful option for photocatalysis. These materials are easy to synthesize, exhibit excellent optoelectronic properties, and demonstrate high activity in CO₂ photoreduction. This review explores the synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic performance of QD-modified MOFs for CO₂ conversion into fuels and chemicals. Key synthesis strategies, including encapsulation, partial embedding, and surface functionalization of QDs within MOFs, are also discussed. The underlying charge transfer mechanisms and CO₂ reduction pathways are analyzed. Additionally, challenges such as stability, scalability, and product selectivity are addressed, with insights into future research directions to optimize these materials for sustainable energy applications. By integrating recent advancements, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of QD-MOF composites and their potential to revolutionize photocatalytic CO₂ conversion technologies.