Abstract Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising materials for electrocatalysis; however, lack of electrical conductivity in the majority of existing MOFs limits their effective utilization in the field. Herein, an excellent catalytic activity of a 2D copper (Cu)‐based conductive MOF, copper tetrahydroxyquinone (CuTHQ), is reported for aqueous CO2reduction reaction (CO2RR) at low overpotentials. It is revealed that CuTHQ nanoflakes (NFs) with an average lateral size of 140 nm exhibit a negligible overpotential of 16 mV for the activation of this reaction, a high current density of ≈173 mA cm−2at −0.45 V versus RHE, an average Faradaic efficiency (F.E.) of ≈91% toward CO production, and a remarkable turnover frequency as high as ≈20.82 s−1. In the low overpotential range, the obtained CO formation current density is more than 35 and 25 times higher compared to state‐of‐the‐art MOF and MOF‐derived catalysts, respectively. The operando Cu K‐edge X‐ray absorption near edge spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations reveal the existence of reduced Cu (Cu+) during CO2RR which reversibly returns to Cu2+after the reaction. The outstanding CO2catalytic functionality of conductive MOFs (c‐MOFs) can open a way toward high‐energy‐density electrochemical systems.
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MOF-based ternary nanocomposites for better CO 2 photoreduction: roles of heterojunctions and coordinatively unsaturated metal sites
Semiconductors are the most widely used catalysts for CO 2 photoreduction. However, their efficiencies are limited by low charge carrier density and poor CO 2 activation. Towards solving these issues, a metal–organic framework (MOF)-based ternary nanocomposite was synthesized through self-assembly of TiO 2 /Cu 2 O heterojunctions via a microdroplet-based approach followed by in situ growth of Cu 3 (BTC) 2 (BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate). With increased charge carrier density and efficient CO 2 activation, the hybrid ternary nanocomposite exhibits a high CO 2 conversion efficiency and preferential formation of CH 4 . Systematic measurements by using gas chromatography, photoluminescence spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and time-resolved in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy reveal that the semiconductor heterojunction and the coordinatively unsaturated copper sites within the hybrid nanostructure are attributable to the performance enhancements.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1727553
- PAR ID:
- 10067167
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Materials Chemistry A
- Volume:
- 6
- Issue:
- 3
- ISSN:
- 2050-7488
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 932 to 940
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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