Metal-organic frameworks as thermocatalysts for hydrogen peroxide generation and environmental antibacterial applications

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive, making them useful for environmental and health applications. Traditionally, photocatalysts and piezocatalysts have been used to generate ROS, but their utilization is limited by various environmental and physical constraints. This study introduces metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as modern thermocatalysts efficiently producing hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) from small temperature differences. Temperature fluctuations, abundant in daily life, offer tremendous potential for practical thermocatalytic applications. As proof of concept, MOF materials coated onto carbon fiber fabric (MOF@CFF) created a thermocatalytic antibacterial filter. The study compared three different MOFs (CuBDC, MOF-303, and ZIF-8) with bismuth telluride (Bi₂Te₃), a known thermocatalytic material. ZIF-8 demonstrated superior H₂O₂ generation under low-temperature differences, achieving 96% antibacterial activity through temperature variation cycles. This work advances potential in thermoelectric applications of MOFs, enabling real-time purification and disinfection through H₂O₂ generation. The findings open interdisciplinary avenues for leveraging thermoelectric effects in catalysis and various technologies.