Metal‐Organic Frameworks‐Based Copper Catalysts for CO<sub>2</sub> Electroreduction Toward Multicarbon Products
Qin Chen, Xuheng Li, Ting Wang, Zhen Xu, Kai‐Jie Chen, Fuping Pan
Abstract
ABSTRACT Copper (Cu) is the most promising catalyst for electrochemical CO 2 ‐to‐C 2+ conversion, whereas performance remains below practical thresholds due to the high energy barrier of C−C coupling and lack of effective approaches to steer the reaction pathway. Recent advances show that metal‐organic frameworks (MOF) could be a promising platform as support, pre‐catalyst, and co‐catalyst to modify the electronic structure and local reaction environment of Cu catalysts for promoting CO 2 ‐to‐C 2+ reduction by virtue of their great tunability over compositions and pore architectures. In this review, we discussed general design principles, catalytic mechanisms, and performance achievements of MOF‐based Cu catalysts, aiming to boost catalyst refinement for steering CO 2 reduction pathway to C 2+ products. The fundamentals and challenges of CO 2 ‐to‐C 2+ reduction are first introduced. Then, we summarized design conceptions of MOF‐based Cu catalysts from three aspects: engineering the electronic properties of Cu, regulating the local reaction environment, and managing site exposure and mass transport. Further, the latest progress of CO 2 reduction to C 2+ products over MOF‐based Cu catalysts, namely Cu‐based MOF, MOF‐derived Cu, and Cu@MOF hybrid catalysts, are discussed. Finally, future research opportunities and strategies are suggested to innovate the rational design of advanced MOF‐based Cu catalysts for electrifying CO 2 ‐to‐C 2+ transformation.