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• Power networks can use inexpensive liquid metal batteries for large-scale energy storage. • Liquid metal batteries' special structure can prevent dendritic development and minimize safety risks. • The study of liquid metal electrolytes is less than that of liquid electrodes, hence the focus must be shifted to electrolyte research. • Liquid metal batteries' electrolyte issue must be resolved for them to function in low-temperature conditions. Liquid metal batteries possess stable safety performance, high rate performance, and thermal stability. The liquid metal battery stores a large amount of electrical energy producing from wind energy or solar energy. The remarkable performance of the liquid metal batteries is partly attributed to electrolyte, which is an important component of the battery. In this paper, the important research progress of liquid metal batteries electrolyte are reviewed and the electrolyte types which have an influence on energy efficiency are discussed in detail. Then, the limitations and challenges of existing electrolytes are also pointed out. On this basis, the key development directions of liquid metal electrolytes are discussed and clarified. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, MOF-based materials, including pristine metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their derivatives, are one kind of the most popular materials, and have been widely used in biomedicine, sensing, energy storage, and catalysis due to their unique pore structures, abundantly accessible metal nodes, large specific surface areas, tailorable function, and morphology. Most of them have shown satisfactory performances in specific fields. However, there are still some urgent problems need to be solved in the application of MOF-based materials in electrocatalytic water splitting, especially the facile and controllable synthesis, and limited activity and stability. Herein, first this article mainly reviewed the applications and challenges of MOF-based materials in electrocatalytic water splitting. Then, typical development strategies (e.g., construction of multi-metallic site of MOF-based materials, structural morphology designing and controlling, engineering of doping, defect, vacancy, coupling with conductive carrier or constructing heterostructures) were highlighted in this review. Finally, perspectives on the development of MOF-based materials were provided for fabricating more efficient water splitting electrocatalysts. [Display omitted] • Different strategies to enhance the electrocatalytic performances of MOF-based materials are summarized. • Advantages of MOF-based materials in electrochemical water splitting are summarized. • The mechanisms of the enhanced catalytic activity are explored. • Some challenges and views for the future development of MOF-based materials are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]