Engineering MOF-derived hollow metal oxides toward enhanced electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction

Metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived hollow metal oxides exhibit significant potential as cutting-edge electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) owing to their exceptional intrinsic activity, expansive specific surface area, structured controllability, and adjustable pore dimensions. Nevertheless, their industrial utilization faces obstacles such as intricate synthesis procedures, limited scalability, and inconsistent performance, necessitating the formulation of effective solutions. Various engineering strategies have been proposed by researchers to tackle these hurdles. This comprehensive review highlights recent breakthroughs in engineering MOF-derived hollow metal oxides and their applications in electrocatalytic OER. It initiates by juxtaposing the drawbacks of traditional metal oxides against the advantages of MOF-derived hollow metal oxides. Subsequently, it delves into a thorough exploration of the engineering methodologies employed to elevate their OER efficiency. Lastly, the review delineates current challenges and potential avenues for the development of more efficient MOF-derived hollow metal oxide electrocatalysts in the future.