Regulation of the d-band center of metal–organic frameworks for energy-saving hydrogen generation coupled with selective glycerol oxidation

The hybrid electrolyzer coupled glycerol oxidation (GOR) with hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is fascinating to simultaneously generate H 2 and high value-added chemicals with low energy input, yet facing a challenge. Herein, Cu-based metal–organic frameworks (Cu-MOFs) are reported as model catalysts for both HER and GOR through doping of atomically dispersed precious and nonprecious metals. Remarkably, the HER activity of Ru-doped Cu-MOF outperformed a Pt/C catalyst, with its Faradaic efficiency for formate formation at 90% at a low potential of 1.40 V. Furthermore, the hybrid electrolyzer only needed 1.36 V to achieve 10 mA cm −2 , 340 mV lower than that for splitting pure water. Theoretical calculations demonstrated that electronic interactions between the host and guest (doped) metals shifted downward the d-band centers (ε d ) of MOFs. This consequently lowered water adsorption and dissociation energy barriers and optimized hydrogen adsorption energy, leading to significantly enhanced HER activities. Meanwhile, the downshift of ε d centers reduced energy barriers for rate-limiting step and the formation energy of OH*, synergistically enhancing the activity of MOFs for GOR. These findings offered an effective means for simultaneous productions of hydrogen fuel and high value-added chemicals using one hybrid electrolyzer with low energy input.