Advanced metal-organic frameworks for next-generation energy storage and conversion: From nanoscale design to widespread applications

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), as an emerging class of porous crystalline materials, exhibit immense potential in the field of energy storage and conversion due to their high specific surface area, tunable pore structures, and abundant active sites. This review summarizes the latest research progress of MOFs in next-generation energy technologies. Spanning from nanoscale design to macroscopic applications, the structure-performance relationships and critical roles of MOFs in electrochemical energy storage, electrocatalysis, and photocatalysis are systematically explored. Initially, nanoscale design principles and controllable synthesis strategies for MOFs are introduced, covering the selection of metal nodes and organic linkers, the modulation of pore size and geometry, and surface functionalization. Subsequently, the applications of MOFs in electrochemical energy storage systems, such as lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells, are discussed. Furthermore, their superior performance in electrocatalytic reactions, including the hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, and carbon dioxide reduction reaction, is highlighted. In addition, the potential of MOFs in photocatalytic fields, such as photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production, carbon dioxide reduction, and pollutant degradation, is examined. Finally, the major challenges hindering the transition of MOFs from laboratory research to scalable applications are summarized, and their significant role in driving the energy revolution and achieving sustainable development goals is envisioned. Through this review, new insights and directions are provided for MOF research in the energy sector, aiming to facilitate their widespread application in future energy technologies.