2D metal–organic frameworks and their derivatives for the oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

Electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a critical half reaction for energy conversion and storage technologies such as water electrolysis, rechargeable metal–air batteries, carbon dioxide reduction reaction, and so on. Unfortunately, large overpotential is needed to overcome the sluggish kinetics of OER. With ultra-thin thickness, large specific surface area, rich and adjustable pore structure, and well-defined metal centers, two dimensional (2D) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely investigated for OER. By virtue of the desirable chemical composition and diverse structural type, 2D MOFs are also employed as precursors and sacrificial templates to prepare metal-decorated porous carbon, metal oxides, metal hydroxides, metal sulfides, metal phosphides, and so on. These 2D MOFs derivatives with high surface area and abundant metal sites exhibit excellent OER performance. Herein, the current advances on 2D MOFs and their derivatives as (pre)electrocatalysts are summarized, including the synthetic strategy and OER performance. Moreover, the structure-performance relationships and actual active species or sites of 2D MOFs and their derivatives toward OER are discussed. The current scientific and technological challenges and future perspectives related with 2D MOF and their derivatives in practical applications are also mentioned at last.