Atomically dispersed metal sites in COF-based nanomaterials for electrochemical energy conversion

Abstract

Atomically dispersed metal sites (ADMSs) play key roles in electrochemical energy conversion. The covalent organic frameworks (COFs) enable the precise control of the chemical compositions and structures at the molecular level, making them ideal substrates for supporting ADMSs. In this review, we systematically summarize the recent progress on the design and synthesis of ADMSs in COFs, including embedding molecular catalysts into COFs, immobilizing ADMSs on heteroatom-containing COFs, and preparing COF-derived carbon materials through pyrolysis. The electrocatalytic performance of the resulting catalysts is presented for various electrochemical reactions, involving oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). The modulation strategies of AMDSs in COFs for enhanced activity, selectivity, and stability are highlighted, together with a perspective of the current challenges and the future opportunities in this field.

Keywords

• Covalent organic frameworks
• Metal sites
• Single-atom catalysts
• Electrochemical energy conversion