Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2026, Vol. 80: 59-91.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(25)64859-5

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Advances in multinuclear metal-organic frameworks for electrocatalysis

Liyuan Xiao, Zhenlu Wang, Jingqi Guan()   

  1. Institute of Physical Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin, China
  • Received:2025-05-12 Accepted:2025-07-11 Online:2026-01-18 Published:2026-01-05
  • Contact: Jingqi Guan
  • About author:Jingqi Guan (Jilin University) was invited as a young member of the 6th Editorial Board of Chin. J. Catal. and the 5th Editorial Board of Acta Phys.-chim. Sin. Prof. Jingqi Guan received his B.A. degree in 2002 and Ph.D. degree in 2007 from Jilin University. He carried out postdoctoral research in the University of California at Berkeley from 2012 to 2013 and in the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics from 2014 to 2018. His research interests are in engineering single-atom catalysts and 2D materials for electrocatalysis, energy, and the environment. He has published more than 250 peer-reviewed papers.
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(22075099);Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province(20220101051JC)

Abstract:

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with mononuclear metal ion nodes have garnered significant attention in the electrocatalytic field owing to their high surface area and tunable structures, but their development is critically hindered by the limitation of active site availability. In contrast, multinuclear MOFs exhibit notable advantages by offering multi-metal active sites, constructing complex structures, enhancing structural and thermal stability, and coupling with in-depth studies on catalytic mechanisms, endowing them great application potential in complex multi-electron reactions. This work provides a comprehensive review on the precise construction, in-situ characterizations, reaction mechanisms, modulation strategies, and electrocatalytic applications of multinuclear MOFs, underlying their role in electrocatalytic processes with a focus on adsorption, active sites, and electron transfer. The effects of spin, polarization, orbital coupling, and pore confinement on catalytic performance are systematically elucidated. Furthermore, the unique tuning strategies of multinuclear MOFs are summarized to guide the precise construction, including adjusting the type and number of metal cores, optimizing electronic structures, and manipulating defects. Lastly, the future trends in the development of multinuclear MOFs for electrocatalysis are envisioned, laying a solid foundation for their practical applications.

Key words: Multinuclear metal sites, Metal-organic framework, Carbon dioxide reduction reaction, Oxygen reduction reaction, Nitrogen reduction reaction