Synthesis and Structure–Activity Relationship of Porous Coordination Polymers and Their Composites as Photocatalysts: Environmental Remediation

Porous coordination polymers (PCPs) or metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) hold promise as photocatalyst candidates for the remediation of toxic metal ions and organic pollutants. However, they often exhibit inferior removal and catalytic efficiency due to the rapid recombination of photoexcited electrons and holes. This review presents synthetic strategies for MOFs and MOF-based composites and elucidates the underlying mechanisms for the photocatalytic reduction of metal ions and degradation of organic pollutants. Furthermore, this review highlights the opportunities, challenges, and future perspectives of MOFs and MOF composite photocatalysts, aiming to design more innovative MOF-based photocatalytic systems using green and sustainable strategies. It is anticipated that this review will serve as a guide for the systematic development and optimization of highly efficient MOF-based photocatalysts.