A Methylthio-Functionalized-MOF Photocatalyst with High Performance for Visible-Light-Driven H₂ Evolution

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Photocatalysis
• Hydrogen Production

Background:

• Photoactive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) show promise for visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution.
• Developing efficient photocatalysts is crucial for sustainable hydrogen fuel production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a novel methylthio-functionalized porous MOF for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.
• To investigate the performance of this MOF as a visible-light-driven photocatalyst.

Main Methods:

• Solvent-assisted ligand-exchange method was used to introduce methylthio terephthalate into the MOF lattice.
• Platinum (Pt) co-catalyst was decorated onto the methylthio-functionalized MOF.
• Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution experiments were conducted under visible light irradiation using triethanolamine as a sacrificial agent.

Main Results:

• A novel methylthio-functionalized porous MOF decorated with Pt co-catalyst was successfully synthesized.
• The material exhibited a high quantum yield of 8.90% at 420 nm.
• An impressive hydrogen production rate of 3814.0 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ was achieved, exceeding state-of-the-art Pt/MOF catalysts by an order of magnitude.

Conclusions:

• The methylthio-functionalized MOF with Pt co-catalyst is a highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution.
• This material offers a significant advancement over existing MOF-based photocatalysts for hydrogen production.
• The study highlights the potential of functionalized MOFs in renewable energy applications.