An Overview on the Use on Metal-Organic Frameworks as Photocatalysts for Reducing Carbon Dioxide

At present, the emission of carbon dioxide from the combustion of fossil fuels into the atmosphere is one of the biggest concerns for the future. In this regard, the development of clean energy produced from sunlight is one of the appropriate solutions for energy supply in the future. The process of photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide is a relatively new method that, collects and stores solar energy to value-added materials, while reduces the negative effects of greenhouse gases through the consumption of carbon dioxide. So far, various semiconductors have been used as photocatalysts in this process. Metal-organic frameworks with unique properties such as band and electron structure, adjustable light absorption and high carbon dioxide absorption are of great interest. In this study, different aspects of these materials and methods to improve their performance, such as the use of optical sensitizers, combination with conventional semiconductors, the use of molecular catalysts and functionalization with amine groups for adsorption of Carbon dioxide has been investigated.