Platinum-Assisted Bimetallic Ru-Eu/Pr MOFs for Photocatalytic H₂ Evolution from Water Splitting

Photocatalytic H-2 evolution from water splitting is a renewable, environmentally friendly technology to utilize solar energy. Two photoactive bimetallic metal-organic framework (MOF) catalysts, the Ru-Eu MOF (EuMOF-Ru(cptpy)(2)) and the Ru-Pr MOF (Pr-MOF- Ru(cptpy)(2)) were designed and synthesized via a convenient solvothermal method. The two MOF catalysts were characterized through multiple characterization methods to demonstrate their compositions, structures, optical properties, and morphologies. The photocatalytic performances for H-2 evolution from water splitting of two compounds were systemically studied by varying the loading amount of the Pt cocatalyst and the type of sacrificial agent. The introduction of a Pt cocatalyst could significantly improve their photocatalytic H-2 production activities. The best sacrificial agent was ascorbic acid, and the Ru-Eu MOF showed a better catalytic effect than the Ru-Pr MOF. With ascorbic acid as the sacrificial agent, 0.5% Pt/Eu-MOF-Ru(cptpy) (2) achieved an optimal light-driven H-2 evolution rate of 4373 mu mol center dot h(-1)center dot g(-1). And after at least 3 times of successive usage (9 h), its catalytic activity was not evidently decreased. The excellent efficiency of photocatalytic H-2 evolution by bimetallic Ru-Eu/Pr MOFs may provide a class of promising catalysts for industrial H-2 production.