The development of artificial water oxidation catalysts (WOCs) represents a journey of structural and conceptual evolution. It began with bioinspired explorations of the Mn4CaO5 cluster in Photosystem II, establishing core principles of molecular design based on precise control of metal nuclearity and coordination environments, and has now advanced towards a new generation of catalysts centered on earth-abundant metals. Throughout this progression, strategies such as multinuclear cooperativity and metal-ligand interactions have enabled base-metal catalysts to rival and even surpass the performance benchmarks set by their noble counterparts. To bridge the molecular precision of homogeneous catalysts with the operational stability required for practical applications, interfacial engineering has become paramount. Hybrid molecular electrodes, constructed through immobilization strategies that include π-π stacking and covalent anchoring, have emerged as representative paradigms that bridge the molecular and material realms. This review systematically delineates this structural evolution pathway. By integrating biological inspiration, molecular design, and interfacial engineering, it outlines a clear blueprint for developing efficient and stable sustainable water oxidation technologies.
{"title":"Structural evolution of artificial water oxidation catalysts: From natural clusters to the design strategies of molecular systems","authors":"Hui Zeng, Akira Hasegawa, Aolun Xu, Shigeyuki Masaoka","doi":"10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100204","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100204","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of artificial water oxidation catalysts (WOCs) represents a journey of structural and conceptual evolution. It began with bioinspired explorations of the Mn<sub>4</sub>CaO<sub>5</sub> cluster in Photosystem II, establishing core principles of molecular design based on precise control of metal nuclearity and coordination environments, and has now advanced towards a new generation of catalysts centered on earth-abundant metals. Throughout this progression, strategies such as multinuclear cooperativity and metal-ligand interactions have enabled base-metal catalysts to rival and even surpass the performance benchmarks set by their noble counterparts. To bridge the molecular precision of homogeneous catalysts with the operational stability required for practical applications, interfacial engineering has become paramount. Hybrid molecular electrodes, constructed through immobilization strategies that include π-π stacking and covalent anchoring, have emerged as representative paradigms that bridge the molecular and material realms. This review systematically delineates this structural evolution pathway. By integrating biological inspiration, molecular design, and interfacial engineering, it outlines a clear blueprint for developing efficient and stable sustainable water oxidation technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":307,"journal":{"name":"EnergyChem","volume":"8 4","pages":"Article 100204"},"PeriodicalIF":20.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148566051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are promising candidates for sustainable energy storage due to their high theoretical energy density (1086 Wh kg-1), low cost, and environmental compatibility. However, their practical deployment is hindered by limited rechargeability, arising from electrolyte instability, Zn anode degradation, and sluggish oxygen redox kinetics. Conventional alkaline and near-neutral electrolytes suffer from issues such as carbonation, dendrite formation, parasitic reactions, and poor reaction kinetics, which restrict long-term cycling performance. This review focuses on emerging electrolyte strategies beyond conventional systems, with particular emphasis on water-in-salt electrolytes (WiSE) and peroxide-mediated reaction pathways. We provide a mechanistic perspective on how electrolyte structure governs Zn2+ solvation, interfacial behaviour, and oxygen reaction pathways, thereby influencing Zn reversibility and overall battery performance. In particular, we discuss how reduced water activity and modified solvation environments in WiSE can suppress parasitic reactions and alter reaction kinetics, while peroxide-based chemistries enable alternative two-electron pathways with improved energy efficiency. By critically comparing these approaches, we highlight key challenges including transport limitations, interfacial stability, and the discrepancy between apparent stability and true Zn reversibility under practical operating conditions. Finally, we outline future research directions toward integrating electrolyte design with realistic performance metrics to enable commercially viable, high-performance rechargeable ZABs.
{"title":"Beyond alkaline and neutral: emerging electrolyte strategies for rechargeable Zn–air batteries","authors":"Peeyush Pandey, Dikshita Goswami, Neha Sepat, Anjana Singha, Isak Engquist, Reverant Crispin, Mohammad Qureshi, Ziyauddin Khan","doi":"10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100203","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100203","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are promising candidates for sustainable energy storage due to their high theoretical energy density (1086 Wh kg<sup>-1</sup>), low cost, and environmental compatibility. However, their practical deployment is hindered by limited rechargeability, arising from electrolyte instability, Zn anode degradation, and sluggish oxygen redox kinetics. Conventional alkaline and near-neutral electrolytes suffer from issues such as carbonation, dendrite formation, parasitic reactions, and poor reaction kinetics, which restrict long-term cycling performance. This review focuses on emerging electrolyte strategies beyond conventional systems, with particular emphasis on water-in-salt electrolytes (WiSE) and peroxide-mediated reaction pathways. We provide a mechanistic perspective on how electrolyte structure governs Zn<sup>2+</sup> solvation, interfacial behaviour, and oxygen reaction pathways, thereby influencing Zn reversibility and overall battery performance. In particular, we discuss how reduced water activity and modified solvation environments in WiSE can suppress parasitic reactions and alter reaction kinetics, while peroxide-based chemistries enable alternative two-electron pathways with improved energy efficiency. By critically comparing these approaches, we highlight key challenges including transport limitations, interfacial stability, and the discrepancy between apparent stability and true Zn reversibility under practical operating conditions. Finally, we outline future research directions toward integrating electrolyte design with realistic performance metrics to enable commercially viable, high-performance rechargeable ZABs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":307,"journal":{"name":"EnergyChem","volume":"8 4","pages":"Article 100203"},"PeriodicalIF":20.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148566052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-04-16DOI: 10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100196
Chuan-Ling Zhang , Shu-Hong Yu
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their derived porous composites have garnered significant scientific attention due to their exceptional porosity, high specific surface area, and tunable composition. One-dimensional (1D) nanostructures, characterized by directional charge transport, high aspect ratios, and structural continuity, offer fundamental advantages in overcoming key limitations in conductivity, active site accessibility, and mechanical stability inherent to many energy materials. MOFs with their exceptional synthetic tunability serve as an ideal building block for such purpose-engineered 1D systems. Specifically, the hierarchical 1D assembly of nanoscale building blocks can establish interconnected conductive networks, enabling collective functionalities and performance enhancement beyond those of individual components. Therefore, 1D MOF-based assemblies and their derivatives have emerged as highly promising candidates for advanced energy conversion and storage applications. In this review, we systematically summarize recent advances in 1D MOF-based architectures, with a focus on compositional modulation, structural engineering, and assembly strategies (including self-assembly and template-assisted assembly) across molecular to macroscopic scales. Additionally, several important applications in electrochemical energy conversion and storage are illustrated. Finally, some challenges and future directions in this area are presented. We anticipate that this comprehensive review will provide valuable insights for the rational design and construction of unique 1D MOF-based assemblies and their derivatives, ultimately advancing their practical implementation in next-generation energy technologies.
{"title":"Energetic one-dimensional assemblies of MOFs and their derivatives for advanced electrochemical applications","authors":"Chuan-Ling Zhang , Shu-Hong Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100196","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100196","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their derived porous composites have garnered significant scientific attention due to their exceptional porosity, high specific surface area, and tunable composition. One-dimensional (1D) nanostructures, characterized by directional charge transport, high aspect ratios, and structural continuity, offer fundamental advantages in overcoming key limitations in conductivity, active site accessibility, and mechanical stability inherent to many energy materials. MOFs with their exceptional synthetic tunability serve as an ideal building block for such purpose-engineered 1D systems. Specifically, the hierarchical 1D assembly of nanoscale building blocks can establish interconnected conductive networks, enabling collective functionalities and performance enhancement beyond those of individual components. Therefore, 1D MOF-based assemblies and their derivatives have emerged as highly promising candidates for advanced energy conversion and storage applications. In this review, we systematically summarize recent advances in 1D MOF-based architectures, with a focus on compositional modulation, structural engineering, and assembly strategies (including self-assembly and template-assisted assembly) across molecular to macroscopic scales. Additionally, several important applications in electrochemical energy conversion and storage are illustrated. Finally, some challenges and future directions in this area are presented. We anticipate that this comprehensive review will provide valuable insights for the rational design and construction of unique 1D MOF-based assemblies and their derivatives, ultimately advancing their practical implementation in next-generation energy technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":307,"journal":{"name":"EnergyChem","volume":"8 3","pages":"Article 100196"},"PeriodicalIF":23.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147802897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-12DOI: 10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100185
Jiheon Lim , Hyeryeon Lee , Jae Kwan Lee , Jong Hwan Lim , Seung-Wook Baek , In-Hyeok Park , Sun Hwa Park , Ho Won Jang , Ki Chang Kwon
Anion-exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) is gaining recognition as a promising approach for sustainable hydrogen production that combines the advantages of both alkaline and proton-exchange membrane technologies. Nonetheless, the performance and durability of AEMWE are significantly influenced by real-time structural and chemical transformations of the catalysts, ionomers, and membranes during operation. Traditional ex-situ techniques fail to capture these dynamic changes, thereby hindering the design of robust materials. In contrast, in-situ and operando methods enable the direct observation of catalyst reconstruction, degradation paths, and interfacial phenomena during electrolysis. This review highlights recent advances in various in-situ techniques, including transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and scanning electrochemical microscopy, which aid in elucidating the relationships between the structure, reactivity, and stability of AEMWE systems. It also discusses the in-situ imaging of gas evolution and operando analyses at the unit-cell level, providing vital insights into mass transport and failure mechanisms. Systems that are both durable and exhibit high performance can be developed through the integration of these methods. Finally, this review underscores the importance of in-situ diagnostics, which are crucial for the commercialization of AEMWE.
{"title":"Advanced in-situ analysis of anion-exchange membrane water electrolysis to correlate structure-reactivity-stability with performance","authors":"Jiheon Lim , Hyeryeon Lee , Jae Kwan Lee , Jong Hwan Lim , Seung-Wook Baek , In-Hyeok Park , Sun Hwa Park , Ho Won Jang , Ki Chang Kwon","doi":"10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100185","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100185","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anion-exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) is gaining recognition as a promising approach for sustainable hydrogen production that combines the advantages of both alkaline and proton-exchange membrane technologies. Nonetheless, the performance and durability of AEMWE are significantly influenced by real-time structural and chemical transformations of the catalysts, ionomers, and membranes during operation. Traditional ex-situ techniques fail to capture these dynamic changes, thereby hindering the design of robust materials. In contrast, <em>in-situ</em> and operando methods enable the direct observation of catalyst reconstruction, degradation paths, and interfacial phenomena during electrolysis. This review highlights recent advances in various <em>in-situ</em> techniques, including transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and scanning electrochemical microscopy, which aid in elucidating the relationships between the structure, reactivity, and stability of AEMWE systems. It also discusses the <em>in-situ</em> imaging of gas evolution and operando analyses at the unit-cell level, providing vital insights into mass transport and failure mechanisms. Systems that are both durable and exhibit high performance can be developed through the integration of these methods. Finally, this review underscores the importance of <em>in-situ</em> diagnostics, which are crucial for the commercialization of AEMWE.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":307,"journal":{"name":"EnergyChem","volume":"8 2","pages":"Article 100185"},"PeriodicalIF":23.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147409721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Electrocatalytic polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE), including both proton and anion exchange membrane water electrolysis, involves oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at the cathode, but still faces significant technical bottlenecks such as sluggish reaction kinetics and poor operational stability. To address these limitations, designing advanced electrocatalysts and understanding their electrocatalytic mechanisms are imperative for accelerating the technological progress of PEMWE. This review provides a comprehensive overview of electrocatalytic reaction mechanisms in both acidic and alkaline media, together with an in-depth analysis of recent advances in non-carbon/carbon-based electrocatalysts and bifunctional electrocatalysts for both the OER and HER. The synthesis strategies, advanced characterization techniques, and performance evaluation metrics of these electrocatalysts are systematically discussed. Key technical challenges are critically analyzed, and future research directions are proposed to guide the innovative design of next-generation electrocatalysts and expedite their practical applications in PEMWE systems.
{"title":"A review of advanced electrocatalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis","authors":"Ruiwen Zhang, Dongfang Wen, Shiming Zhang, Jiujun Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100186","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100186","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electrocatalytic polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE), including both proton and anion exchange membrane water electrolysis, involves oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at the cathode, but still faces significant technical bottlenecks such as sluggish reaction kinetics and poor operational stability. To address these limitations, designing advanced electrocatalysts and understanding their electrocatalytic mechanisms are imperative for accelerating the technological progress of PEMWE. This review provides a comprehensive overview of electrocatalytic reaction mechanisms in both acidic and alkaline media, together with an in-depth analysis of recent advances in non-carbon/carbon-based electrocatalysts and bifunctional electrocatalysts for both the OER and HER. The synthesis strategies, advanced characterization techniques, and performance evaluation metrics of these electrocatalysts are systematically discussed. Key technical challenges are critically analyzed, and future research directions are proposed to guide the innovative design of next-generation electrocatalysts and expedite their practical applications in PEMWE systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":307,"journal":{"name":"EnergyChem","volume":"8 2","pages":"Article 100186"},"PeriodicalIF":23.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147409725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-07DOI: 10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100183
Liqin Liao , Xilin Chen , Yingjuan Sun , Hongyan Li
In the context of accelerating transformation in the global energy structure and increasingly depleting resources, potassium ion batteries (PIBs) are emerging as an important development direction in the energy storage field due to their unique resource advantages and cost-effectiveness. However, the limited capacity of traditional cathode materials restricts the energy density of PIBs. Therefore, potassium-chalcogen batteries (PCBs) based on chalcogen elements (S, Se, Te) have attracted considerable attention due to their high theoretical capacity and rich redox chemistry, offering a promising route for high-energy storage. This review systematically summarizes the electrochemical mechanisms, material design strategies, and performance optimization pathways of PCBs, establishing theoretical guidance and technical routes for the development of high-performance PCBs. The key challenges faced by cathode materials based on chalcogen elements in PCBs and corresponding optimization strategies were discussed in detail. Additionally, the progress of PCB anodes and their potential future development directions are also explored. Furthermore, advances and strategies for tuning and optimizing electrolyte formulation are highlighted. Finally, the review summarizes future research directions focused on improving the overall performance and long-term cycling stability of batteries, with the aim of advancing the practical application of PCB in next-generation energy storage systems.
{"title":"Unlocking the potential of potassium-chalcogen (S, Se, Te) batteries: From storage mechanisms to material enhancements","authors":"Liqin Liao , Xilin Chen , Yingjuan Sun , Hongyan Li","doi":"10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100183","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100183","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the context of accelerating transformation in the global energy structure and increasingly depleting resources, potassium ion batteries (PIBs) are emerging as an important development direction in the energy storage field due to their unique resource advantages and cost-effectiveness. However, the limited capacity of traditional cathode materials restricts the energy density of PIBs. Therefore, potassium-chalcogen batteries (PCBs) based on chalcogen elements (S, Se, Te) have attracted considerable attention due to their high theoretical capacity and rich redox chemistry, offering a promising route for high-energy storage. This review systematically summarizes the electrochemical mechanisms, material design strategies, and performance optimization pathways of PCBs, establishing theoretical guidance and technical routes for the development of high-performance PCBs. The key challenges faced by cathode materials based on chalcogen elements in PCBs and corresponding optimization strategies were discussed in detail. Additionally, the progress of PCB anodes and their potential future development directions are also explored. Furthermore, advances and strategies for tuning and optimizing electrolyte formulation are highlighted. Finally, the review summarizes future research directions focused on improving the overall performance and long-term cycling stability of batteries, with the aim of advancing the practical application of PCB in next-generation energy storage systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":307,"journal":{"name":"EnergyChem","volume":"8 2","pages":"Article 100183"},"PeriodicalIF":23.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147409722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-26DOI: 10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100184
Zenghao Shi , Zhou Ren , Jingwei Li , Li Yan , Yunjie Ding
The electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) has emerged as a sustainable "win-win" strategy for mitigating environmental nitrate (NO3-) pollution while simultaneously synthesizing high-value-added nitrogenous chemicals under ambient conditions. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in NO3RR catalysts, specifically through the lens of reaction mechanism and pathway. We first discuss the pivotal roles of advanced in situ characterization techniques and multi-scale theoretical simulations in capturing reactive intermediates and elucidating the dynamic structural evolution of catalysts at the electrode-electrolyte interface. Regarding ammonia (NH3) synthesis, we emphasize strategies for enhancing nitrate adsorption, balancing activation kinetics at multifunctional sites, and directing the reaction pathway to suppress the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction. For urea production, we examine the co-reduction of nitrate and carbon dioxide (CO2), focusing on the design of catalytic sites that optimize nitrogenous and carbonaceous intermediate adsorption and lower the energy barriers for C-N coupling. Thereafter, the synthesis of high-value chemicals such as amino acids, amides, and nitriles via the "oxime-intermediated" pathway is explored. Furthermore, the integration of data-driven paradigms, including high-throughput screening and machine learning, is highlighted as an emerging frontier for accelerating catalyst screening and uncovering non-intuitive structure-activity relationships. Finally, this review proposes potential directions on addressing critical challenges—such as selectivity-activity trade-offs, long-term stability, and system-level industrial integration—to provide actionable guidance for the rational design for high performance NO3RR electrocatalysts.
{"title":"Recent advances in the catalysts for electroreduction of nitrate to nitrogen-containing chemicals: From reaction mechanism/pathway aspect","authors":"Zenghao Shi , Zhou Ren , Jingwei Li , Li Yan , Yunjie Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100184","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100184","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO<sub>3</sub>RR) has emerged as a sustainable \"win-win\" strategy for mitigating environmental nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>) pollution while simultaneously synthesizing high-value-added nitrogenous chemicals under ambient conditions. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in NO<sub>3</sub>RR catalysts, specifically through the lens of reaction mechanism and pathway. We first discuss the pivotal roles of advanced <em>in situ</em> characterization techniques and multi-scale theoretical simulations in capturing reactive intermediates and elucidating the dynamic structural evolution of catalysts at the electrode-electrolyte interface. Regarding ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>) synthesis, we emphasize strategies for enhancing nitrate adsorption, balancing activation kinetics at multifunctional sites, and directing the reaction pathway to suppress the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction. For urea production, we examine the co-reduction of nitrate and carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>), focusing on the design of catalytic sites that optimize nitrogenous and carbonaceous intermediate adsorption and lower the energy barriers for C-N coupling. Thereafter, the synthesis of high-value chemicals such as amino acids, amides, and nitriles via the \"oxime-intermediated\" pathway is explored. Furthermore, the integration of data-driven paradigms, including high-throughput screening and machine learning, is highlighted as an emerging frontier for accelerating catalyst screening and uncovering non-intuitive structure-activity relationships. Finally, this review proposes potential directions on addressing critical challenges—such as selectivity-activity trade-offs, long-term stability, and system-level industrial integration—to provide actionable guidance for the rational design for high performance NO<sub>3</sub>RR electrocatalysts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":307,"journal":{"name":"EnergyChem","volume":"8 2","pages":"Article 100184"},"PeriodicalIF":23.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147409724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-27DOI: 10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100187
Sujan Mondal , Sayantan Chongdar , Santu Ruidas , Javeed Mahmood , Thien S. Nguyen , Dalal Alezi , Asim Bhaumik , Cafer T. Yavuz
The quest for chemical sustainability is becoming increasingly central to advancing energy conversion and storage technologies. One promising avenue is the development of advanced materials for electrochemical water splitting, a process that generates hydrogen and oxygen from water using electrical energy. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have significant potential in this domain due to their unique structural properties and tunable functionalities. This review article surveys recent developments and key achievements in utilizing COFs as catalysts for water splitting, focusing on their structural design, synthesis methods, applications in sustainable energy production and the mechanisms underlying their catalytic activity. The discussion covers strategies to enhance COF performance through structural modifications, doping with catalytic centers, and integration into practical electrochemical devices. In addition, this comprehensive review conclude with current challenges and future prospects for COFs towards industrial applications, and ultimately their potential contributions to global efforts in achieving a carbon-neutral energy landscape.
{"title":"Covalent organic frameworks for electrochemical water splitting","authors":"Sujan Mondal , Sayantan Chongdar , Santu Ruidas , Javeed Mahmood , Thien S. Nguyen , Dalal Alezi , Asim Bhaumik , Cafer T. Yavuz","doi":"10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100187","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.enchem.2026.100187","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The quest for chemical sustainability is becoming increasingly central to advancing energy conversion and storage technologies. One promising avenue is the development of advanced materials for electrochemical water splitting, a process that generates hydrogen and oxygen from water using electrical energy. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have significant potential in this domain due to their unique structural properties and tunable functionalities. This review article surveys recent developments and key achievements in utilizing COFs as catalysts for water splitting, focusing on their structural design, synthesis methods, applications in sustainable energy production and the mechanisms underlying their catalytic activity. The discussion covers strategies to enhance COF performance through structural modifications, doping with catalytic centers, and integration into practical electrochemical devices. In addition, this comprehensive review conclude with current challenges and future prospects for COFs towards industrial applications, and ultimately their potential contributions to global efforts in achieving a carbon-neutral energy landscape.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":307,"journal":{"name":"EnergyChem","volume":"8 2","pages":"Article 100187"},"PeriodicalIF":23.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147409723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-05DOI: 10.1016/j.enchem.2025.100179
Wenwen Dong , Jiahui Yan , Meng Ge, Yi Liu
Zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) have emerged as state-of-the-art candidate materials for membrane-based molecular separations due to their uniformly narrow pore windows, exceptional thermal/chemical stability, and virtually unlimited and tailorable structure features which allow fit-for-purpose regulation of their physicochemical properties and functions. Nonetheless, to overcome intrinsic trade-off between selectivity and permeability—critical factors for achieving efficient separation, it is imperative to rationally design and tailor the multi-scale structure of Zr-MOF membranes. This includes optimizing the pore micro-environment (e.g., aperture size, lattice defects, pore functionality, and adsorption active sites) at the sub-nanometer scale, as well as the mesostructures (i.e., thickness, grain boundary structures, and crystallographic orientation) at the mesoscopic scale. Meanwhile, an in-depth understanding of the relationship between structure-properties and separation performance is also of fundamental importance for constructing continuous Zr-MOF membranes with tailored functionalities and precisely controlled aperture sizes. Given the significant advancements made in the past decade, a timely summary of recent developments in this emerging field has become indispensable. This review introduces major protocols and provides comprehensive guidelines for optimizing the multi-scale structures of Zr-MOF membranes, including ligand engineering (e.g., manipulation of ligand configurations and mixed-ligand strategies), lattice defect engineering (e.g., creating or eliminating intracrystalline defects), post-synthetic modification, thickness manipulation, inter-crystalline defect engineering, and preferred-orientation manipulation. New insights into their updated progress, the crucial effects of membrane structures on separation properties, and transport mechanisms are elucidated. Particularly, recent developments and promising applications of Zr-MOF membranes, illustrating their potential to address energy and environmental challenges, are highlighted. Ultimately, the emerging challenges and future prospects are outlined.
{"title":"Multi-scale structural manipulation in zirconium-based metal-organic framework membranes for molecular separations: Status and challenges","authors":"Wenwen Dong , Jiahui Yan , Meng Ge, Yi Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.enchem.2025.100179","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.enchem.2025.100179","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) have emerged as state-of-the-art candidate materials for membrane-based molecular separations due to their uniformly narrow pore windows, exceptional thermal/chemical stability, and virtually unlimited and tailorable structure features which allow fit-for-purpose regulation of their physicochemical properties and functions. Nonetheless, to overcome intrinsic trade-off between selectivity and permeability—critical factors for achieving efficient separation, it is imperative to rationally design and tailor the multi-scale structure of Zr-MOF membranes. This includes optimizing the pore micro-environment (e.g., aperture size, lattice defects, pore functionality, and adsorption active sites) at the sub-nanometer scale, as well as the mesostructures (i.e., thickness, grain boundary structures, and crystallographic orientation) at the mesoscopic scale. Meanwhile, an in-depth understanding of the relationship between structure-properties and separation performance is also of fundamental importance for constructing continuous Zr-MOF membranes with tailored functionalities and precisely controlled aperture sizes. Given the significant advancements made in the past decade, a timely summary of recent developments in this emerging field has become indispensable. This review introduces major protocols and provides comprehensive guidelines for optimizing the multi-scale structures of Zr-MOF membranes, including ligand engineering (e.g., manipulation of ligand configurations and mixed-ligand strategies), lattice defect engineering (e.g., creating or eliminating intracrystalline defects), post-synthetic modification, thickness manipulation, inter-crystalline defect engineering, and preferred-orientation manipulation. New insights into their updated progress, the crucial effects of membrane structures on separation properties, and transport mechanisms are elucidated. Particularly, recent developments and promising applications of Zr-MOF membranes, illustrating their potential to address energy and environmental challenges, are highlighted. Ultimately, the emerging challenges and future prospects are outlined.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":307,"journal":{"name":"EnergyChem","volume":"8 1","pages":"Article 100179"},"PeriodicalIF":23.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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