Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2027, Vol. 92: 87-114.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(26)65269-2

• Reviews • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Recent advances in metal-organic framework-based electrocatalysts for electrochemical reduction of nitrate to ammonia

Bo Zhanga, Yuye Jiaob, Huijie Chengb,*(), Jungang Houb,*()   

  1. a College of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Hunan Institute of Science and Engineering, Yongzhou 425199, Hunan, China
    b State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemical, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, Liaoning, China
  • Received:2026-05-09 Accepted:2026-06-29 Online:2027-01-02 Published:2026-10-30
  • Contact: *E-mail: hjcheng@dlut.edu.cn (H. Cheng),
    jhou@dlut.edu.cn (J. Hou).
  • About author:Jungang Hou (School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology) received his PhD degree from Tianjin University in 2010. He joined the faculty of University of Science and Technology Beijing and was promoted to associate professor in 2013. He worked in Tohoku University as a fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) from 2014 to 2015. Since 2015, he became a full professor in Dalian University of Technology. His research interests focus on photo(electro)catalytic and electrolytic water splitting and CO2 conversion using renewable energy.
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(22508109);National Natural Science Foundation of China(22525201);National Natural Science Foundation of China(22372021);National Natural Science Foundation of China(224B2202);National Natural Science Foundation of China(225B2202);Scientific Research Fund of Hunan Provincial Education Department(24B0761);Liaoning Binhai Laboratory(LBLD-2025-05);Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(DUT22LAB602);Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(DUT24BK061);Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(DUTZD25231);Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(DUT25Z2779);Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(DUT25Z3208);Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(DUT25Z2734);Liaoning Joint Project for Technology Research and Development(2024JH2/102600047)

Abstract:

Electrocatalytic conversion of nitrate (NO3-) to ammonia (NH3) represents a compelling strategy for mitigating the problem of nitrogen pollution while simultaneously enabling waste valorization, thereby offering a sustainable alternative to the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process for NH3 synthesis. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of porous materials composed of metal nodes and organic linkers, exhibit periodically extended network structures. Their inherent advantages, including high porosity, well-defined and uniform active sites, and tunable organic functionalities, position them as promising candidates in the field of energy and catalysis. Therefore, a systematic summary of the characteristics and recent research progress of MOF-based materials for the electroreduction reaction of NO3- holds significant importance. This review first introduces the current application of pristine MOF materials, MOF-based composites, and MOF-derived materials in the field of NO3- electroreduction reaction. It elaborates on the structural characteristics and performance differences of various types of catalysts, revealing the relationship between the catalytic activity and the composition. Subsequently, we highlight and discuss the key strategies for enhancing the performance of NO3- electroreduction reaction, thus offering theoretical insights to rationally design the catalysts with high activity and long-term stability. Furthermore, to achieve an in-depth understanding of the mechanism, this review delineates the state-of-the-art techniques employed to probe the structure of catalyst, as well as provide a reliable basis for understanding the reaction pathways of NO3- electroreduction reaction. Finally, the significance of MOF-based materials for NO3- electroreduction is summarized, and perspectives on their future development are provided.

Key words: Metal-organic frameworks, Reaction pathways, Electrochemical reduction, Ammonia synthesis