Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Promotes Metal–Organic Framework‐Based Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract Combining metal nanoparticles (NPs) featured with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) with metal–organic framework (MOF)‐based photocatalysts is a novel means for achieving efficient separation of electron–hole pairs. Herein, the Au@NH 2 ‐UiO‐66/CdS composites are successfully synthesized by encapsulating Au NPs with LSPR into the NH 2 ‐UiO‐66 nanocage, further growing CdS NPs on the surface of the NH 2 ‐UiO‐66, which exhibits higher photocatalytic activity in hydrogen evolution reaction under visible‐light irradiation than that of NH 2 ‐UiO‐66/CdS and CdS, respectively. Transient absorption measurements reveal that MOF is not only a transit station for electrons generated from CdS to Au, but also a receiver for hot electrons generated from plasmonic Au in Au@MOF/CdS composites. Thus, the LSPR‐induced hot electron transfer from Au NPs is an important manifestation to prolong the carrier lifetime and enhance the photocatalytic performance. This work provides insights into investigating the photoinduced carrier dynamics of nanomaterials with LSPR effects for enhancing the MOF‐based photocatalytic performance.