Multidentate Macrocyclic Salphen-Based 2D Conjugated Metal-Organic Framework.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Two-dimensional conjugated metal-organic frameworks (2D c-MOFs) are promising crystalline porous materials for electrochemical applications.
• Designing novel organic ligands is key for developing advanced 2D c-MOFs.
• Incorporating macrocycles into 2D c-MOFs can create beneficial intrinsic cavities, but current designs often coordinate with limited metal ions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel triangular-shaped Salphen macrocycle-based 2D c-MOF (SM-MOF-Cu) with multidentate internal coordination sites.
• To investigate the electrochemical properties and catalytic performance of the synthesized SM-MOF-Cu.
• To explore the potential of macrocycle-based 2D c-MOFs in electrocatalytic hydrogenation reactions.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a triangular-shaped Salphen macrocycle-based 2D c-MOF (SM-MOF-Cu).
• Characterization of SM-MOF-Cu for crystallinity, porosity, and accessible metal sites.
• Electrocatalytic hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene (E-HAE) using SM-MOF-Cu as a catalyst.

Main Results:

• SM-MOF-Cu exhibited high crystallinity, permanent porosity, and abundant accessible metal sites.
• The material achieved a high Faradaic efficiency of 96.6% for ethylene production during the electrocatalytic hydrogenation of acetylene.
• Optimal catalytic performance was observed at -0.85 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) under continuous pure acetylene feed.

Conclusions:

• A new class of macrocycle-based 2D c-MOFs was successfully synthesized and characterized.
• SM-MOF-Cu demonstrates exceptional performance for the electrocatalytic hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene.
• This work provides valuable insights into the design of macrocycle-based 2D c-MOFs for advanced electrocatalysis applications.