The design and development of MOF photocatalysts and their applications for water-splitting reaction

Abstract In this chapter, the application of metal-organic framework (MOF) as a visible light–responsive photocatalyst for water-splitting reaction will be reviewed. The organic linker moieties as well as inorganic metal oxide clusters within MOF can act as the visible light–harvesting units where excited electrons and holes are produced. It will be demonstrated that the H2 evolution reaction on MOF photocatalysts are initiated by the photoexcitation of organic linker moieties and following electron transfer to metal oxides, that is the dye-sensitizing mechanism. On the other hand, the O2 evolution reaction on MOF is initiated by the water oxidation by the photoformed holes produced on metal oxide moieties under visible light irradiation.