Single-Atom Catalysts Derived from Metal-Organic Frameworks for Electrochemical Applications

Abstract

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have received tremendous attention due to their extraordinary catalytic performances. The synthesis of this kind of catalysts is highly desired and challenging. In the last few years, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been demonstrated as a promising precursor for fabricating SACs. In this review, the progress and recent advances in the synthesis of MOF-derived SACs and their electrochemical applications are summarized. First, the synthetic approaches based on MOFs and accessible characterization techniques for SACs as well as their advantages/disadvantages are discussed. Then, the electrochemical applications of these MOF-derived SACs including the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂ RR), nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), and other energy-related reactions are reviewed. Finally, insights into the current challenges and future prospects of this field are briefly presented.

Keywords: carbon nanostructures; electrocatalysis; metal-organic frameworks; single-atom catalysts.