With the development of productivity and the transformation of energy structure, new energy technologies such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries have also ushered in a new wave of rapid development. Electrocatalytic reactions based on the oxygen cycle (mainly including oxygen reduction electrocatalysis (ORR) and oxygen evolution electrocatalysis (OER)), as the key basis for the development of new energy technologies, have also received extensive attention. Classic electrocatalysts based on precious metals have high efficiency but are expensive and have poor weather resistance. Therefore, the development of high-efficiency and high-stability electrocatalysts for oxygen cycle reactions and saving catalyst costs are the only way for new energy technologies to replace traditional energy systems.

Recently, Professor Li Haibo and Professor Feng Ming of Jilin Normal University and Academician Chen Zhongwei of the University of Waterloo in Canada have systematically reviewed the application of metal organic framework (MOF) and its derivatives in the field of electrocatalysis for oxygen reduction and evolution on Advanced Energy Materials. And its active site regulation strategy (the paper information is attached).

Figure 1. Typical spatial configuration of metal organic framework (MOF) and its derivatives
Materials based on MOF and its derivatives have the characteristics of large specific surface area, high porosity, and adjustable spatial pore structure. Therefore, they have shown great application potential and practical value in the field of catalysis. This review starts with the structural characteristics of MOF materials, discusses the synthesis methods of the catalysts, the application in the electrocatalysis of oxygen reduction/evolution, and the regulation strategies of active sites from the two directions of MOF bulk materials and MOF derivatives. These control strategies mainly include: structural optimization design, heterostructure construction, defect control, material recombination, heterogeneous element doping, complex optimization, etc. In addition, a detailed summary and analysis of the design principles, control methods and electrochemical reaction mechanism of the catalyst active sites have been carried out in the review. Finally, the author is concerned about the challenges that still exist in the current catalytic oxygen reduction/precipitation process based on MOF and its derivative catalysts, such as phase transitions in electrochemical processes, difficulty in building heterostructures, expensive precursors, and unclear catalytic active sites It summarized the problems and proposed possible solutions in the future, and looked forward to the development prospects of MOF and its derivatives in the field of electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction/extraction.

Figure 2. Metal organic framework (MOF) and its derivatives catalytic activity center regulation strategy

Corresponding author profile
Feng Ming: Professor of Jilin Normal University, doctoral tutor, outstanding contribution expert of Jilin Province, top innovative talent of Jilin Province, winner of Jilin Province Youth Science and Technology Award. Mainly engaged in the basic research and application development of multiferroic functional materials in the field of clean energy. The current deputy director of the Key Laboratory of Functional Materials Physics and Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, concurrently a director of the Engineering Ceramics Committee of the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society, an editorial board member of "Journal of Advanced Ceramics", a youth editorial board member of "Rare Metals" and "Tungsten" journals, Jilin Province Director of the Society of Analysis and Testing Technology. Has presided over 3 National Natural Science Foundation projects; Jilin Province young and middle-aged science and technology innovation leading talents and team projects, Jilin Province Talent Development Special Fund, Provincial Department of Science and Technology "Thematic Scientist" Special Fund, Provincial Development and Reform Commission Industrial Technology Research and Development Special Project, etc. 7-level items. More than 80 papers have been published in internationally renowned journals such as Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Adv. Energy Mater., Nano Energy, Appl. Catal. B: Environ., Adv. Sci., and have been authorized for invention patents7 item.

Li Haibo: Professor of Jilin Normal University, doctoral supervisor, national candidate for the "New Century Talent Project", and leader of the innovation team of the Ministry of Education. He is currently the Vice President of Jilin Normal University and Director of the Key Laboratory of Functional Materials Physics and Chemistry of the Ministry of Education. He was hired as a part-time professor and doctoral supervisor of Jilin University, vice chairman of Jilin Province Analysis and Testing Society, and standing director of Jilin Province Physics Society. Mainly engaged in the research work of inorganic nano-functional materials, energy storage and conversion materials, and Mössbauer spectroscopy applications. He has presided over 16 provincial and ministerial projects including 2 National Natural Science Foundation of China, Key Science and Technology Research Projects of the Ministry of Education, and Science and Technology Development Plan Project of Jilin Province. As the first completer, he won 2 Second Prizes of Natural Science of Jilin Province, 1 Second Prize of Science and Technology Progress of Jilin Province, and 3 authorized invention patents. As the correspondent or first author, he has published more than 90 papers included in SCI.

Chen Zhongwei: Professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Canada, Director of the Electrochemical Energy Center of the University of Waterloo, Chief Scientist of Canada (CRC-Tier 1), Vice Chairman of the International Academy of Electrochemical Energy, Academician of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, Academician of the Royal Canadian Academy of Sciences, highly cited worldwide the scientist. The research team of Academician Chen Zhongwei has been committed to the R&D and industrialization of core materials and systems for energy storage devices such as fuel cells, metal-air batteries, lithium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, and flow batteries. In recent years, more than 360 SCI papers have been published in internationally renowned journals such as Nat. Energy, Nat. Nanotech., Nat. Commun., Angew. Chem., Adv. Mater., Energy. Environ. Sci., and have been cited more than 33,000 times , H-index index 89, and served as associate editor of ACS applied Materials & Interfaces. Research group homepage: http://chemeng.uwaterloo.ca/zchen/

Paper information:

Modulating Metal–Organic Frameworks as Advanced Oxygen Electrocatalysts

Zhaoqiang Li, Rui Gao, Ming Feng*, Ya‐Ping Deng, Dengji Xiao, Yun Zheng, Zhao Zhao, Dan Luo, Youlin Liu, Zhen Zhang, Dandan Wang, Qian Li, Haibo Li*, Xin Wang*, Zhongwei Chen*

Advanced Energy Materials

DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202003291