Highly efficient photosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide by a stable Zr(iv)-based MOF with a diamino-functionalized ligand

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as a promising class of materials for solar-driven hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) generation due to their porosity, large surface area and designable molecular building blocks; however, producing H₂O₂ from oxygen and water without sacrificial agents remains a major challenge. Herein, we have constructed two UiO-67-type MOFs, UiO-67-NH₂ and UiO-67-(NH₂)₂, by a solvothermal method using 2-amino-4,4'-biphenyldicarboxylic acid and 2,2'-diamino-4,4'-biphenyldicarboxylic acid as ligands, respectively. A variety of photochemical measurements have shown that the introduction of diamino groups into UiO-67-(NH₂)₂ not only enhances its absorption ability for visible light, but also facilitates the separation of photogenerated electron/hole pairs. Consequently, compared to monoamino-functionalized UiO-67-NH₂, UiO-67-(NH₂)₂ exhibits a 5.5 times higher H₂O₂ production rate in pure water for 1 h. A two-step one-electron oxygen reduction reaction pathway for photocatalytic H₂O₂ production was suggested based on a series of control experiments and active species trapping tests by electron paramagnetic resonance spectra. This work provides new insights into the regulation of functionalized MOF ligands at the molecular level and a catalytic mechanism towards MOF-based photocatalysts for H₂O₂ production with high activity.