Research progress in photocatalysis of rare earth metal-organic frameworks: From environmental restoration, resource utilization to photodynamic therapy

Rare earth metal–organic frameworks (Re-MOFs) integrate the unique electronic structure, high coordination number and rich coordination modes of rare earth metal ions, as well as the advantages of porous structure and tunability of MOFs. This coordination environment and electronic structure can enhance the photocatalytic performance of Re-MOFs, making them highly favored in the field of photocatalysis and related research reports have continued to increase in recent years. In this review, we systematically summarize the recent research progress of Re-MOFs based on photocatalytic reactions in the fields of environment restoration, resource utilization and photo dynamic therapy, and discusses their related mechanisms. Finally, the current research challenges and expectations of Re-MOFs in photocatalysis are also discussed.