Metal organic frameworks as catalysts for oxygen reduction

Non-precious metal catalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells cathode are well studied for years in order to obtain commercial and durable fuel cell. First row transition metal complexes offer the most promising oxygen reduction reaction of this class. The attempts to increase the number of catalytic sites and surface area of catalysts lead to materials based on metal organic frameworks (MOFs). These highly organized inorganic materials show impressive catalysis when comparing other non-precious metal catalysts and platinum as well, especially in the case of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks derived materials. Currently, MOFs-based materials have very good opportunity to replace platinum and bring fuel cells technology to commercialization.