Recent progress on MOF-derived electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction

Development of effective transition metal catalysts to replace precious metal platinum-based electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has attracted widespread interest. Metal–organic framework (MOF) is an organic–inorganic porous material composed of organic ligands and metal centers with crystalline morphology, and has been developed as a promising class of new materials for high-efficiency HER electrocatalysts. In this review, the progress and current developments of various transition metal MOFs and MOF-derived electrocatalysts for HER are summarized. The application of MOF-derived materials in HER is documented in detail. The reasons why the original MOF materials show good HER activity but poor stability are discussed. The effect of bimetal-doped and heteroatom-doped MOF-derived materials on catalytic activity and stability is highlighted. The understandings of the synergy between metal center and heteroatoms are provided. The general principle of HER in acidic and alkaline electrolytes is introduced. The application and future prospects of MOF-derived materials in HER catalysts are presented.