Chemical Research in Chinese Universities ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (1): 184-211.doi: 10.1007/s40242-025-5152-3

• Review Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research Progress of Porous Framework MOFs- and COFs-based Materials for Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction

ZHAO Xiaona1, HOU Changan1, SUN Banglun1, WANG Chuanjiao1, WANG Danhong1,2   

  1. 1. TKL of Metal and Molecule Based Material Chemistry, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China;
    2. Nankai University & Cangzhou Bohai New Area Institute of Green Chemical Engineering, Cangzhou 061110, P. R. China
  • Received:2025-07-19 Online:2026-02-01 Published:2026-01-28
  • Contact: WANG Danhong,E-mail:dhwang@nankai.edu.cn E-mail:dhwang@nankai.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 22372082), the Nankai Cangzhou Bohai New Area Green Chemical Research Co., LTD. Fund (NCC Fund) (No. NCC2022FH01), the Project of the Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, China (No. YYJC202101), the ‘111’ Project, China (No. B18030), and the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2022YFA1502901).

Abstract: The escalating levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions present a severe threat to humanity, driving climate change with farreaching consequences for the economy, society, and the environment. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as highly promising candidates for photocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) due to their exceptional properties, including high specific surface areas, tunable structures, and broad visible-light absorption capabilities. This paper reviews the application of MOFs, COFs, and their composites in the field of photocatalytic CO2RR, including the structural characteristics, classification, and common modification strategies of MOFs and COFs, and particularly illustrates the influence of structural characteristics on the photocatalytic CO2RR pathway. Meanwhile, this paper summarizes the applications of MOFs, COFs, and their composites in photocatalytic reduction from CO2 to C1, C2+ or oxygen-containing compounds. In addition, this review systematically explores the key challenges faced by MOFs and COFs in the field of photocatalytic CO2RR, and proposes effective strategies to overcome bottleneck problems, providing guidance for the future development of efficient and stable sacrificial free photocatalytic CO2RR systems. A fundamental understanding of the structure-property relationship in these porous materials is essential for driving significant advancements in this field. By providing a comprehensive analysis, this review aims to offer valuable insights and guidance for future research and applications of MOFs, COFs, and their composites in photocatalytic CO2 reduction.

Key words: Metal-organic framework, Covalent organic framework, Photocatalytic, CO2 reduction reaction, Composite