Exploring the Defect Sites in UiO-66 by Decorating Platinum Nanoparticles for an Efficient Hydrogen Evolution...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Catalysis
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer tunable properties for catalytic applications.
• Defect engineering is a key strategy for functionalizing MOF structures.
• Platinum nanoparticles are highly effective catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).

Purpose of the Study:

• To tailor UiO-66 using defect engineering to introduce thiol functionalities.
• To utilize thiolated UiO-66 as a scaffold for supporting platinum nanoparticles.
• To evaluate the performance of the resulting Pt@UiO-66-SH catalyst for HER.

Main Methods:

• Defect engineering of UiO-66 to incorporate thiol groups (-SH).
• Immobilization of platinum nanoparticles (∼2 nm) onto the thiolated UiO-66 scaffold via soft-soft interactions.
• Electrochemical characterization of the Pt@UiO-66-SH catalyst for HER in acidic medium.

Main Results:

• The Pt@UiO-66-SH catalyst achieved an overpotential of 57 mV at 10 mA cm⁻².
• Exhibited a Tafel slope of 75 mV/dec and a high turnover frequency (TOF) of 389.37 s⁻¹.
• Demonstrated excellent long-term durability, operating continuously for 30 hours.

Conclusions:

• Thiolated UiO-66 effectively scaffolds platinum nanoparticles for enhanced HER catalysis.
• The Pt@UiO-66-SH catalyst shows significant potential for efficient and stable hydrogen production.
• Defect engineering provides a viable route for designing advanced MOF-based electrocatalysts.