Methane (Aug 2024)

Copper-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks Applied as Electrocatalysts for the Electroreduction of Carbon Dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>ER) to Methane: A Review

  • Jesús Antonio Cruz-Navarro,
  • Fabiola Hernández-García,
  • Arturo T. Sánchez-Mora,
  • María Esther Moreno-Narváez,
  • Viviana Reyes-Márquez,
  • Raúl Colorado-Peralta,
  • David Morales-Morales

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/methane3030027
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 3
pp. 466 – 484

Abstract

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The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) to methane (CH4) holds tremendous potential in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and producing renewable fuels. Thus, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the utilization of copper-based metal–organic frameworks (Cu-MOFs) as catalysts for this transformative process. Diverse key aspects of Cu-MOFs that make them ideal candidates for CO2 reduction are discussed, including their high surface areas, tunable pore sizes, and customizable active sites. Furthermore, recent advances in the design and synthesis of Cu-MOFs tailored specifically for enhanced catalytic activity and selectivity towards CH4 production are highlighted. Additionally, mechanistic insights into the CO2 reduction process on Cu-MOF catalysts are examined. Moreover, the recent application of diverse Cu-MOFs and derived materials in electrochemical reduction systems is discussed, and future research directions and potential applications of Cu-MOFs in sustainable energy conversion technologies are outlined. Thus, this review provides valuable insights into the current state of the art and the prospects for utilizing Cu-MOFs as efficient catalysts for the electrochemical conversion of CO2 to CH4, offering a pathway towards a greener and more sustainable energy future.

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