The application of Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) and their derivatives based materials for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and pollutants treatment

[Display omitted] •The application of ZIF/ZIF derivative based composite photocatalysts was reviewed.•Special attention has been paid to the catalytic mechanism.•The synergistic effects between the components are discussed.•The challenges and opportunities in this interesting field are presented. To solve the problem of the global energy shortage and the widespread pollution of the environment, semiconductor photocatalytic technology has been widely studied. Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks, a sub-family of metal-organic frameworks, have emerged as potential candidates for photocatalysis due to their intrinsic porous characteristics, abundant functionalities, rapid electron transfer ability, and exceptional thermal and chemical stabilities. Besides, a thermal treatment of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks can result to functional materials that have the similar structure characteristic, but superior light sensitivity and charge transfer properties. Moreover, the photocatalytic activity of zaeolitic imidazolate frameworks and their derivatives can be largely improved by combining photoactive semiconductors/ molecules which serve as light harvesting centers/electronic mediators. This paper presents a first review of the application of zaeolitic imidazolate frameworks and their derivatives -based materials for visible-light-induced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and pollutants treatment. The representative studies are carefully summarized and discussed. Special emphasis is given to the synergistic effects between the components in the composite catalyst for enhanced photocatalysis. At the end of this review, the current achievements together with major challenges in the field are discussed and the next possible development directions are proposed.