Abstract
The direct utilization of light to drive chemical reactions has been considered a promising approach to decarbonizing the chemical industry and storing solar energy in the form of chemical bonds. In this regard, photo‐thermal catalysis has emerged as a bright strategy due to the combination of thermal and non‐thermal contributions of sunlight. This enables the whole exploitation of the solar spectrum providing localized heating and thus an enhancement in the productivity rates. In this scenario, MOFs and MOFs‐derived materials offer great opportunities for the rational design of new photo‐thermal catalysts. In this review, we describe the different types of photo‐thermal systems, with a particular consideration on the mechanisms. Further, we describe the recent advances of MOF and MOF‐derived materials as photo‐thermal catalysts for different catalytic reactions, including organic transformations, pollutant degradation or CO2 hydrogenations. Lastly, we present our opinion on the future challenges and perspectives in the field.
Photo‐thermal catalysis benefits from the synergistic combination of the thermal and non‐thermal contributions of sunlight. In this regard, metal‐organic frameworks and their derived materials are promising candidates as photo‐thermal catalysts owing to their unique properties including high porosity, enhanced light absorption or improved thermal conductivity.