MOF-Directed Construction of Cu–Carbon and Cu@N-Doped Carbon as Superior Supports of Metal Nanoparticles toward Efficient Hydrogen Generation
Yali Han, Yuan Meng, Yan Guo, Peilin Jia, Gui‐Fang Huang, Xiaojun Gu
Abstract
The modulation of electronic behavior of metal-based catalysts is vital to optimize their catalytic performance. Herein, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are pyrolyzed to afford a series of different-structured Cu–carbon composites and Cu@N-doped carbon composites. Then a series of CO-resistant catalysts, namely, Co or Ni nanoparticles supported by the Cu-based composites, are synthesized for the hydrogen generation from aqueous NH3BH3. Their catalytic activities are boosted under light irradiation and regulated by the compositions and the fine structures of doped N species with pyridine, pyrrole, and graphitic configurations in the composite supports. Particularly, the optimized Co-based catalyst with the highest graphitic N content exhibits a high activity, achieving a total turnover frequency (TOF) value of 210 min–1, which is higher than all the reported unprecious catalysts. Further investigations verify that the light-driven synergistic electron effect of plasmonic Cu-based composites and Co nanoparticles accounts for the high-performance hydrogen generation.