Work

An innovative Cu(X)@NH2-UiO-68 heterojunction designed for enhanced CO2 photocatalytic conversion: amplification via bimetallic Zr/Cu centers

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) photocatalysis CO 2 reduction reaction (PCRR) to fine chemicals represents as a promising avenue for sustainable carbon resources. However, in this transformation, selective synthesis of C 2 products like C 2 H 6 remains challenge due to limited efficiency in multiple electron transfer processes and inappropriate active sites. Herein, to address this challenge we engineered an oxo-bridged bimetallic sites, Zr‒O‒Cu, within the framework of UiO-68 MOFs through cation exchange mechanism between the installed Zr nodes and Cu salt. The resulted in photocatalysts (designated as Cu(X)@NH 2 -UiO-68) demonstrated significant photocatalytic activity by producing 51.3 µmolh −1 g −1 of C 2 H 6 with remarkable selectivity under free-photosensitizer condition. A review of the literature indicates that Cu(9)@NH 2 -UiO-68 demonstrates superior photocatalytic activity compared to all other UiO-type MOFs reported to date and is one of the most efficient MOF photocatalysts in this regard. In-depth characterization demonstrated that the development of polarized Zr‒O‒Cu active sites plays a critical role in enhancing light capture, facilitating charge migration and separation, and diminishing the band gap energy. This engineering methodology offers crucial insights into the production of C 2 fuels within UiO-68 MOFs.

Source: Molecular Catalysis

DOI: 10.1016/j.mcat.2025.115494