In situ growth of porphyrinic metal–organic framework nanocrystals on graphene nanoribbons for the electrocatalytic oxidation of nitrite

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Vol. 4; no. 27; pp. 10673 - 10682
• Main Authors: Kung, Chung-Wei, Li, Yan-Sheng, Lee, Min-Han, Wang, Shan-Yu, Chiang, Wei-Hung, Ho, Kuo-Chuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2016
• Subjects: catalysts; coordination polymers; electrochemistry; glass; Graphene; Metal-organic frameworks; Nanocomposites; Nanocrystals; Nanostructure; Nitrites; Oxidation; Thin films
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/C6TA02563C

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are incorporated with the nanocrystals of a porphyrinic metal–organic framework, MOF-525 , by solvothermally growing MOF-525 in a suspension of well-dispersed GNRs. A nanocomposite, which is composed of the MOF-525 nanocrystals interconnected by numerous one-dimensional GNRs, is successfully synthesized. Due to the excellent dispersity, uniform thin films of the MOF-525 /GNR nanocomposite can be simply deposited on conducting glass substrates by using drop casting. The obtained thin film of the MOF-525 /GNR nanocomposite is applied for electrochemical nitrite sensors. The MOF-525 nanocrystals serve as a high-surface-area electrocatalyst toward nitrite and the interconnected GNRs act as conductive bridges to provide facile charge transport. The thin film of the MOF-525 /GNR nanocomposite thus exhibits a much better electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of nitrite compared to the pristine MOF-525 thin film.