Heterogeneous nanoporous organic frameworks-based catalysts for electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction

Converting captured carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable chemicals and fuels through electrocatalysis and realizing the anthropogenic closed-carbon cycle can provide new solutions to environmental and energy problems. Nanoporous organic frameworks, including metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and porous organic polymers (POPs), as a class of potential electrocatalysts, have made great progress in CO2 reduction reaction due to their high porosity, large specific surface area, and structural/functionalization diversity. In this review, the recent developments in pristine MOFs/POPs, MOFs/POPs composite, and MOFs-/POPs-derived catalysts are discussed from aspects of catalyst design, synthesis strategy, test techniques, performance validation, active sites, and basic mechanism. We further summarize the challenges and prospects of MOFs/POPs-based materials in practical applications for CO2 reduction reactions and point out the potential paths of future research. This review can provide a comprehensive reference for the advanced design and systematic cognition of efficient nanoporous organic framework catalysts for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction.