Photoelectrochemical hydrogen production: a comparative and bibliometric analysis of metal-organic frameworks and perovskites

The global transition to sustainable energy has accelerated research into photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen production, a promising technology for converting sunlight into storable chemical fuel. Among emerging materials, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and perovskites have shown great promise due to their adjustable band structures, catalytic versatility, and optoelectronic performance. This study provides a comparative and bibliometric analysis of MOFs and perovskite-based PEC systems, combining a review of recent advancements in heterojunction design, band-gap engineering, co-catalyst integration, and stability improvements with a quantitative overview of global research trends (2015-2025) using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny. Results show that perovskites lead in light-harvesting efficiency and publication impact, while MOFs excel in catalytic versatility and interfacial engineering. Hybrid MOF-perovskite structures exhibit synergistic effects that enhance charge separation, durability, and solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency. These findings emphasize the importance of combining both material types as a key step toward developing efficient, stable, and scalable PEC devices for green hydrogen production.