Catalytic Metal–Organic Framework Membranes: Advances in Electrocatalysis, Photocatalysis, and Thermocatalysis
- 1Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China
- 2Center for Advanced Materials Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China
Abstract
Metal–organic framework (MOF) membranes combine the structural designability of MOFs with a continuous membrane architecture that integrates reactant enrichment, active-site accessibility, and product separation. This review surveys catalytic MOF membranes reported from 2016 to 2025, from fabrication strategies—classified by how catalytic function is integrated with the membrane (intrinsic framework active sites, guest species incorporation, and non-catalytic microenvironment coating)—to catalytic performance in electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and thermocatalysis. In electrocatalysis, non-catalytic MOF coatings improve CO2 reduction and nitrogen reduction, whereas MOF-derived electrodes currently lead water-splitting benchmarks. In photocatalysis, MOF membranes have enabled CO2 reduction with near-unity HCOOH selectivity, pollutant degradation, Cr(VI) reduction, and H2 evolution stable for over 1000 h. In thermocatalysis, membrane demonstrations are so far confined to low- and medium-temperature antibacterial and oxidative desulfurization applications, whereas alkyne semihydrogenation and high-temperature operation of intact membranes remain largely unexplored. Across all three regimes, membrane geometry governs reactant enrichment, separation, and catalyst recoverability, yet inconsistent reporting limits cross-study comparison. Key challenges and future directions are discussed.
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BibTeX
@article{deng2026catalytic,
title = {{Catalytic Metal–Organic Framework Membranes: Advances in Electrocatalysis, Photocatalysis, and Thermocatalysis}},
author = {Jingzhe Deng and Fangye Zhang and Meng Wang and Yanwei Sun},
journal = {Nanomaterials},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/nano16201306},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/16/20/1306},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Catalytic Metal–Organic Framework Membranes: Advances in Electrocatalysis, Photocatalysis, and Thermocatalysis
AU - Jingzhe Deng
AU - Fangye Zhang
AU - Meng Wang
AU - Yanwei Sun
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Nanomaterials
DO - 10.3390/nano16201306
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/16/20/1306
AB - Metal–organic framework (MOF) membranes combine the structural designability of MOFs with a continuous membrane architecture that integrates reactant enrichment, active-site accessibility, and product separation. This review surveys catalytic MOF membranes reported from 2016 to 2025, from fabrication strategies—classified by how catalytic function is integrated with the membrane (intrinsic framework active sites, guest species incorporation, and non-catalytic microenvironment coating)—to catalytic performance in electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and thermocatalysis. In electrocatalysis, non-catalytic MOF coatings improve CO2 reduction and nitrogen reduction, whereas MOF-derived electrodes currently lead water-splitting benchmarks. In photocatalysis, MOF membranes have enabled CO2 reduction with near-unity HCOOH selectivity, pollutant degradation, Cr(VI) reduction, and H2 evolution stable for over 1000 h. In thermocatalysis, membrane demonstrations are so far confined to low- and medium-temperature antibacterial and oxidative desulfurization applications, whereas alkyne semihydrogenation and high-temperature operation of intact membranes remain largely unexplored. Across all three regimes, membrane geometry governs reactant enrichment, separation, and catalyst recoverability, yet inconsistent reporting limits cross-study comparison. Key challenges and future directions are discussed.
SN - 2079-4991
ER -