Manganese-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks and Their Derivatives for Electrochemical Water Splitting: Recent Advances and Future Outlook

Abstract

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their derivatives have recently attracted significant interest as promising candidates in water splitting due to their well-defined structural and electronic features, three-dimensional architecture, high surface area, abundance of active sites, remarkable stability, and improved capabilities for mass transport and diffusion. Mn-based MOFs and their derivatives have been extensively studied and demonstrated significant potential in water splitting, inspired largely by the natural photosystem-II. Despite the development of numerous Mn-based electrocatalysts, Mn-MOFs stand out due to their strong synergistic interactions, tunable electronic properties, efficient charge and mass transfer, and straightforward synthesis. However, recent reviews on MOFs have largely overlooked the specific advancements in Mn-MOFs and their derivatives for water-splitting applications. By providing an overview of the uses of Mn-MOFs and their materials, this article seeks to close that gap. It looks at their stability, porosity, and structure as well as how they are used in water splitting. This study offers a deeper knowledge of the properties and uses of Mn-MOFs and their related materials by drawing on groundbreaking research. The link between structure, property, and performance is examined, current advancements in the subject are discussed, difficulties faced are addressed, and potential future developments are taken into account.