Photocatalytic conversion of CO2 to valuable chemicals by solar irradiation is a hugely attractive process due to its potential to offset both the energy and economic penalties of CO2 capture and sequestration. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently been explored as photocatalysts for this processing owing to their promising photochemical and textural properties. Papers to date are collated and reviewed to highlight advances made in MOF photocatalysts through novel synthesis and analytical methods. These are compared with key metrics highlighting the range of materials and methods used to show the diversity and novelty of this emerging field. Knowledge gaps were noted in order to propose potential routes for further improvements in catalyst and reactor design.
This review was chosen as a runner up of the 2017 Materials Literature Review Prize of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, run by the Editorial Board of MST. Sponsorship of the prize by TWI Ltd is gratefully acknowledged
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