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The Role of Defects in Metal–Organic Frameworks for Nitrogen Reduction Reaction: When Defects Switch to Features
Author(s) -
Khalil Islam E.,
Xue Cong,
Liu Wenjing,
Li Xiaohan,
Shen Yu,
Li Sheng,
Zhang Weina,
Huo Fengwei
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.202010052
Subject(s) - materials science , redox , metal organic framework , nanotechnology , electrochemistry , adsorption , porosity , electron transfer , combinatorial chemistry , electrode , chemistry , photochemistry , organic chemistry , metallurgy , composite material
The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), a contributor for producing ammonia under mild conditions sustainably, has recently attracted global research attention. Thus far, the design of highly efficient electrocatalysts to enhance NRR efficiency is a specific focus of the research. Among them, defect engineering of electrocatalysts is considered a significant way to improve electrocatalytic efficiency by regulating the electronic state and providing more active sites that can give electrocatalysts better physicochemical properties. Recently, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), along with their derivatives, have captured immense interest in electrocatalytic reactions owing to not only their large surface area and high porosity but also the ability to create rich defects in their structures. Hence, they can provide plenty of exposed active sites for electron transfer, NN cleavage, and N 2 adsorption to enhance NRR performance. Herein, the concept, the in situ characterizations techniques for defects, and the most common ways to create defects into MOFs have been summarized. Furthermore, the recent advances of MOF‐based electrocatalysts towards NRR have been recapitulated. Ultimately, the major challenges and outlook of defects in MOFs for NRR are proposed. This paper is anticipated to provide critical guidelines for optimizing NRR electrocatalysts.