Metal-organic frameworks for electrocatalytic hydrogen peroxide production

The electrocatalytic two electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e-ORR) has aroused extensive attention as a promising alternative route to the prevailing anthraquinone process for H₂O₂ production, where the design of efficient electrocatalysts with high activity, high selectivity and a high H₂O₂ production rate is the key. Metal-organic frameworks are an emerging class of crystalline porous materials with a high specific surface area, ease of structural control, and evenly distributed and well-defined metal sites. These remarkable features provide MOFs with great potential as high-performance electrocatalysts. To date, several excellent reviews of MOF-based electrocatalysts have been reported in the fields of 4e-ORR, oxygen evolution reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction, CO₂ reduction reaction and nitrogen reduction reaction. However, a dedicated review of 2e-ORRs is still lacking. In this review, we provide an overview of the recent advances in the design of MOF-based 2e-ORR electrocatalysts for H₂O₂ production. The electrocatalytic mechanism and performance evaluation methods of the 2e-ORR is firstly introduced. Then, MOF-based 2e-ORR electrocatalysts including pristine MOFs, MOF composites and MOF derivatives are summarized with the structure-property relationships elucidated. Finally, some current challenges and future perspectives are discussed for the further development of this emerging field.