Symbiotically Reinforced Bimetallic Photocatalysis in Conjugated Metal−Organic Framework Nanosheets

• Published in: Advanced functional materials Vol. 33; no. 5
• Main Authors: Li, Jian‐Ming, Lin, Qia‐Chun, Li, Ning, Li, Zhi‐Hua, Tan, Guiping, Liu, Shou‐Jie, Chung, Lai‐Hon, Liao, Wei‐Ming, Yu, Lin, He, Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2023
• Subjects: Bimetals; Electrical resistivity; Hydrogen evolution; Light irradiation; Materials science; Metal-organic frameworks; Nanosheets; Optimization; Performance enhancement; photocatalyses; Photocatalysis; Platinum; second metal installations; symbiotic effects; Synergistic effect
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202210717

Compared to monometallic counterparts, bimetallic two‐dimensional conjugated metal‐organic framework (2D c‐MOF) nanosheets possess preferable metal tunability and synergistic effect for performance optimization, yet rarely developed in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution to date. In this study, a feasible post‐synthetic strategy of second metal installation (SMI) is proposed and applied to construct a crystalline bimetallic 2D c‐MOF nanosheet, HTHATN‐Ni‐Pt‐NS. HTHATN‐Ni‐Pt‐NS exhibits high electrical conductivity and efficient hydrogen evolution with the rate of 47.2 mmol g−1 h−1, which is 13.5‐fold higher than that of pristine HTHATN‐Ni‐NS without PtII decoration under visible light irradiation. Experimental and theoretical analysis reveal that introduction of low amount of PtII provides catalytically active metal sites and optimizes the ΔGH* value of NiII centers, thus resulting in the enhanced performance of proton reduction. This study represents the first example of symbiotic bimetallic centers in MOF nanosheets highlighting SMI strategy as an efficient approach to construct photocatalysts. Post‐synthetic strategy of second metal installation is feasible to construct bimetallic metal‐organic framework nanosheet for synergetic photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. PtII as the second metal is coordinated to remained −C2N− unit of Ni‐based 2D conjugated network, optimizing ΔGH* value, serving as preferential active site and endowing NiII site with efficient activity of proton reduction.