Electrodeposition of WO₃ nanoparticles into surface mounted metal-organic framework HKUST-1 thin films

We describe a novel procedure to fabricate WO₃@surface-mounted metal-organic framework (SURMOF) hybrid materials by electrodeposition of WO₃ nanoparticles into HKUST-1, also termed Cu₃(BTC)₂ SURMOFs. These materials have been characterized using x-ray diffraction, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as well as linear sweep voltammetry. The WO₃ semiconductor/SURMOF heterostructures were further tested as hybrid electrodes in their performance for hydrogen evolution reaction from water.