Recent advances in Porphyrin-based metal organic frameworks and composites for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and water treatment

Since the growing need for fuel is causing major harm to the environment, it is essential to introduce photocatalytic energy conversion devices that are safe for the environment. One such strategy is the utilisation of photocatalytic water-splitting devices to achieve sustainable hydrogen production. In order for these devices to operate optimally, it is imperative to utilise materials that possess the capability to properly capture sunlight. Porphyrins are significant molecules that can be found all over nature as units that absorb visible light. Energy conversion devices can benefit from porphyrins' multifunctional features, including their easy fabrication, excellent chemical constancy, plentiful metallic active sites, adaptable crystalline structure, and high specific surface area. They can produce charge-transfer excited states with or without a cocatalyst and make it easier to transfer energy and move rapid excited energy. These properties, along with their ease of synthesis, make them excellent starting materials for porous metal-organic framework-based photocatalysts that convert solar energy into usable fuels. This article provides an overview of the synthesis as well as designing of porphyrin-based MOFs. The effect of metal in porphyrin besed MOFs and two bridging ligands are summarized briefly. In this article, the photocatalytic applications of porpyrin based MOFs and composites as photocatalysts, such as the hydrogen evolution process and photodegradation of organic contaminants are discussed. In conclusion, the bottlenecks that need to be overcome and some potential solutions for the ongoing research and development of porphyrin-based MOF photocatalysts are discussed.