Electrically Conductive Metal-Organic Frameworks for Electrocatalytic Applications

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), combining the merits of inorganic and organic components, have received huge attention over the past two decades. Owing to the diversity of structures and excellent physicochemical properties, MOFs have been regarded as promising materials in wide-ranging fields. However, the application as electrocatalysts is severely hampered by the low electrical conductivity of pristine MOFs. Previous studies have demonstrated that the development of conductive MOFs can be a feasible solution to this issue. Herein, various synthetic strategies to construct conductive MOFs are briefly summarized, including intrinsically conductive MOFs, guest-based conductive MOFs, and conductive MOF composites. Some successful examples of conductive MOFs used as electrocatalysts in electrochemical energy conversions are also introduced. Finally, the existing problems and present prospects for the ulterior applications of conductive MOFs in electrocatalysis for renewable energy conversion and other reactions are highlighted.