Solubilizing Metal-Organic Frameworks for an In Situ IR-SEC Study of a CO₂ Reduction Catalyst

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are typically assembled by bridging metal centers with organic linkers for various applications, including providing robust support for heterogeneous catalysts for CO₂ reduction. In this study, we have demonstrated the solubilization of a MOF tethered to a CO₂-reducing electrocatalyst and studied its fundamental electrochemistry in THF solvent using infrared spectroelectrochemistry (IR-SEC). The fundamental electrochemical properties of this immobilized catalyst were compared to that of its homogeneous counterpart. This approach provides a foundation for future experimental studies to bridge the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous electrocatalysis.