Research Progress and Future Directions of Metal-Organic Framework-Derived Single-Atom Catalysts for Electrolytic Water Splitting

Addressing the high cost and limited efficiency of precious metal catalysts in water electrolysis for hydrogen production, single-atom catalysts (SACs) have emerged as promising alternatives due to their nearly 100% atomic utilization and exceptional catalytic activity. However, their tendency to migrate and agglomerate under operational conditions poses a significant challenge to their practical application. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with their well-defined pore structures and ultra-high specific surface areas, offer an ideal platform to address these issues by precisely anchoring and stabilizing single atoms. Based on this premise, this review focuses on single-atom catalysts derived from metal-organic framework precursors. It systematically summarizes the synthesis strategies, performance tuning mechanisms, and recent advances in their application for water electrolysis. Furthermore, the key challenges currently hindering their large-scale preparation and long-term stability are critically analyzed. This review aims to provide theoretical insights and research directions for the design of highly efficient and cost-effective catalysts for sustainable hydrogen production.