MOF-Derived Multi-heterostructured Composites for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution: Deciphering the Roles of Different Components

Hussain, Mian Zahid, Yang, Zhuxian, van der Linden, Bart, Heinz, Werner R, Bahri, Mounib ORCID: 0000-0002-8336-9158, Ersen, Ovidiu, Jia, Quanli, Fischer, Roland A, Zhu, Yanqiu and Xia, Yongde (2022) MOF-Derived Multi-heterostructured Composites for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution: Deciphering the Roles of Different Components. ENERGY & FUELS, 36 (19). pp. 12212-12225.

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Abstract

Bimetal-organic-framework (Bi-MOF) NH2-MIL-125(Ti/Cu)-derived nanocomposites are systematically investigated to elucidate the role of individual species TiO2, CuxO and the porous carbon matrix in photocatalytic activity. Among the studied samples, the TiO2/CuxO/C nanocomposite derived from heat processing NH2-MIL-125(Ti/Cu) under Ar/H2O vapor demonstrates the highest photocatalytic H2 evolution performance due to the formation of a phasejunction between the well-crystallized anatase/rutile TiO2 polymorph, the optimized and codoped nitrogen/carbon in the composites, the formation of p-n heterojunctions between the TiO2 and CuxO nanoparticles, as well as their uniform distribution in a hydrophilic porous carbon matrix decorated with N and carboxylic functional groups. These parameters enable the in situ-formed multi-heterostructures in these nanocomposites to not only possess relatively narrower energy band gaps and improved spatial charge separation due to the formed type-II staggered p-n heterojunctions but also offer multiple pathways for charge diffusion, resulting in lower charge-transfer resistance, suppressed bulk charge recombination, and consequently, much improved visible-light absorption. Therefore, the Bi-MOF NH2-MIL-125(Ti/Cu)-derived TiO2/CuxO/C nanocomposite provides easily accessible active sites with an excellent photocatalytic H2 evolution activity of 3147 μmol gcat-1 h-1, 99 times higher than that of bare TiO2. This work provides a simple one-step approach to producing tunable novel nanocomposites for efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution without using expensive noble metals as cocatalysts.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	7 Affordable and Clean Energy
Divisions:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	01 Mar 2023 10:27
Last Modified:	15 Mar 2024 17:06
DOI:	10.1021/acs.energyfuels.2c02319
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.2c02319
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3168651