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Carbyne with one-dimensional sp-hybridized carbon atoms is the third form of carbon following diamond and graphite.

The unique structural advantage of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) determines the great prospect and developability in gas adsorption and separation. Both ligand design and microporous engineering based on crystal structure are significant lever for coping with new application exploration and requirements. Focusing on the designable pore and modifiable frameworks of MOFs, this review discussed the recent advances in the field of gas adsorption and separation, and analyzed the host-guest interaction, structure-performance relations, and the adsorption/separation mechanism from ligand design, skeleton optimization, metal node regulation, and active sites construction. Based on the function-oriented perspective, we summarized the main research recently, and made an outlook based on the focus of microporous MOFs that require further attention in the structure design and industrial application.

A Co-doping core–shell shaped NiSe2 based catalyst (NixCo1−xSe2@NC) exhibits promising electrocatalytic activity for HER with a low overpotential of −143 mV at −10 mA cm−2, a small Tafel slope of 37.5 mV dec−1.

A Ni-MOF is used as a precursor to synthesize a NiSe2/NiS2@NC heterojunction with rich phase interfaces through a selenization/sulfurization process. Overpotentials of 188 mV and 211 mV are achieved in acidic and alkaline media at 10 mA cm−2.

Accurately controlling the distance between Fe atoms can enhance the electrocatalytic activity for carbon dioxide reduction and promote the C–C coupling process, thus promoting the production of ethanol.

The evolution of cost-effective hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts is of great significance for the development of clean energy. Exploring effective synthesis strategies to optimize the performance of non-noble metal electrocatalysts has always attracted our attention. Herein, ultrathin coordination polymers were used as precursors to controllably synthesize two-dimensional (2D) ultrathin dual-phase transition metal selenide (TMSs)/carbon–nitrogen (CN) composites (CoSe2–NiSe2/CN) by a two-step method (first a low temperature hydrothermal method for selenization, and then high temperature calcination selenization). Benefiting from its large specific surface area (49 m2 g−1), abundant catalytically active sites and synergistic effects, CoSe2–NiSe2/CN can significantly enhance the HER catalytic activity and exhibits good electrocatalytic activity with an overpotential of 150 mV at −10 mA cm−2, and a small Tafel slope of 42 mV dec−1 in an acidic electrolyte for the HER. This work provides a new strategy for optimizing the HER catalytic activity of TMSs by preparing 2D ultrathin dual-phase TMS composite materials.

The high performance of lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries generally suffers from the sluggish reaction kinetics and notorious shuttle effect, resulting from the multi-phase/interface evolution and multistep electron-transfer/non-transfer processes. In this article, the novel vanadium diboride (VB2) nanosheet shows the self-limiting lithiation property in the 1.5–2.8 V polysulfide reaction range, which can afford better electron/ion transport under the stable reaction interface of the catalytic mediator in the Li–S cell cycling. Moreover, electrochemical measurements and density-functional theory calculations reveal that the boron sites of VB2 have a strong surface interaction with Li2S4, which can further improve the conversion rate between Li2S4 and Li2S2/Li2S. Thereinto, these VB2-based Li–S cells possess high sulfur loading (4 mg cm−2), impressive current rate (2C), excellent cycling stability (1000 cycles), and great rate capability (1013 mA h g−1 at 5 mA cm−2). This work provides insight into the stable structure to support the advancement of electrocatalysis technology.