Chem. J. Chinese Universities ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (3): 20250333.doi: 10.7503/cjcu20250333

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research Progress of MOF-SACs in Water Splitting for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

HE Yutong1, LI Hanxi2, FAN Xiaoyan3, YU Meihui2(), ZHANG Jijie2   

  1. 1.School of Chemical Engineering,Tianjin University,Tianjin 300072,China
    2.School of Material Science and Engineering,Nankai University,Tianjin 300350,China
    3.Intelligence and Information Research Center of the Sixth Academy,China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation,Hohhot 010010,China
  • Received:2025-11-04 Online:2026-03-10 Published:2025-12-25
  • Contact: YU Meihui E-mail:mh@nankai.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22478201)

Abstract:

The hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) from photocatalytic and electrocatalytic water splitting is a pivotal technology of future green hydrogen economy, but the synthesis of low cost, high efficiency catalysts with high stability remains a critical scientific challenge to be addressed for both. Single-atom catalysts(SACs) are regarded as one of the most promising catalysts due to their unique electronic structure and maximum atomic utilization. The metal-organic framework materials(MOFs) are ideal single atoms carriers due to ultra-high specific surface area, tunable porous nanostructure, and abundant active sites, serving as SACs synthesis precursors owing to their unique pyrolysis characteristics. The composite system of MOFs and single atom catalysts(MOF-SACs) can take full advantage of the synergistic effect, thus improving the hydrogen evolution catalytic activity significantly. In this review, the recent applications and research progress of MOF-SACs in photocatalytic and electrocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production progress are introduced, while the strategies for enhancing the catalytic activity are summarized. Moreover, the future research hotspots and trends are outlined, which can provide novel design models for HER catalysts.

Key words: Metal-organic frameworks(MOFs), Single-atom, Photocatalysis, Electrocatalysis, Hydrogen evolution reaction by hydrolysis

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