Recent developments in transition metal-based MOFs for electrocatalytic water splitting emphasizing fundamental and structural aspects

Abstract

Energy scarcity and environmental pollution are major threats to the long-term viability of modern civilization. Electrocatalytic water splitting is a crucial technology for environmentally friendly and long-lasting energy storage and a clean way to make hydrogen. Metal–organic frameworks have become the most capable multifunctional materials in recent years because of their enormous surface areas, tunable permeability, simplicity in compositional alteration, and capacity to be used as predecessors for a variety of morphological shapes. In this review, MOFs and their derivatives as an electrocatalyst for the OER are well defined. An overview of the fundamental ideas and important evaluation criteria related to the electrochemical water-splitting reaction is provided at the outset of this review. Herein, how MOF-based materials will serve as a potential candidate with suitable synthetic methods in the near future with respect to detailed fundamental and electronic structural outcomes has been summarized. Additionally, this review describes the difficulties and opportunities of the MOF-based electrocatalysts for the water splitting process. Finally, this review will pave an effective pathway for constructing a sustainable MOF production, which will help the reader in producing sustainable and greener hydrogen technology.