Recent Advances in Cu-Based Metal–Organic Framework Electrocatalysts for CO2 Reduction Reactions

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) utilizing intermittent electricity from renewable energy sources represents an emerging and promising approach to achieve carbon neutrality and mitigate the greenhouse effect. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in Cu-based metal–organic framework (MOF) electrocatalysts for CO2RR, focusing on their applications in producing C1 and C2+ products. This paper highlights key strategies such as nanostructure manipulation, multi-component tandem catalysis, single-atom alloying, and ligand functionalization to optimize the binding energies of intermediate species and promote selective CO2RR pathways. Numerous examples are presented, showcasing remarkable Faradaic efficiencies and product selectivities achieved through rational catalyst design. Furthermore, the use of MOF-derived materials and composites with other materials, like carbon nanotubes, graphene, and metal oxides, is discussed to enhance conductivity, stability, and selectivity. Despite the significant progress, challenges remain in achieving stable and scalable catalysts with high activity and selectivity towards specific C2+ products. This review underscores the importance of precise control of catalyst composition, structure, and surface properties to tackle these challenges and provides valuable insights for future research directions in developing advanced Cu-based MOF electrocatalysts for practical applications in CO2 conversion technologies.