Pioneering MOFs electrocatalysts: Unlocking new horizons in acidic water splitting

Proton-exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis has long been recognized as a highly efficient and reliable technology for hydrogen production, with the added advantage of rapid response to fluctuating renewable energy sources. Despite their outstanding electrocatalytic activity in acidic environments, noble metals and their oxides such as Pt, IrO₂, and RuO₂ face major limitations due to high cost, scarcity, and long-term instability, which hinder large-scale application. To address these challenges, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently attracted growing interest as versatile and cost-effective alternatives. Owing to their tunable structures, high surface areas, and distinct physicochemical features. MOFs provide a promising platform for designing advanced electrocatalysts. This review offers a detailed analysis of the fundamental mechanisms underlying the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in acidic media. Furthermore, it highlights design strategies, in-situ characterization techniques, and the latest developments in MOF-based catalysts, while also discussing current obstacles and outlining future directions for their practical implementation in water-splitting technologies.