MOF-MXene composites: a new era of high-efficiency electrocatalysts

This review summarizes the recent advances in MOF-MXene composites for the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO₂RR), and nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) relevant to sustainable energy conversion technologies. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a new class of sophisticated porous hybrid materials with high surface areas and varied pore sizes, are distinguished by their different periodic patterns. They are employed in various potential applications due to their high porosity and mechanical and thermal resilience. However, the poor stability and limited electrical conductivity of MOFs make their electrocatalytic applications very challenging. Owing to their excellent electrical conductivity, hydrophilic surfaces, and tunable electronic structures, MXenes are widely used as 2D materials for electrocatalytic applications. Their limited specific surface area and active sites hamper their commercial applications. To overcome these challenges, the integration of MOFs with MXene materials has emerged as an effective strategy for increasing the conductivity, stability, and active-site accessibility. This review provides a comprehensive overview of electrocatalysis on MOF-MXene composites. This article also discusses various electrochemical performance parameter measurement methods for the OER, HER, ORR, CO₂RR and NRR. The review discusses the synthesis strategies of MOF-MXene composites and their advantages in electrocatalysis and provides mechanistic insights for electrocatalytic applications. The current challenges along with future perspectives of MOF-MXene composites in electrocatalytic research are also discussed here.