Platinum-Assisted Bimetallic Ru–Eu/Pr MOFs for Photocatalytic H2 Evolution from Water Splitting

Photocatalytic H2 evolution from water splitting is a renewable, environmentally friendly technology to utilize solar energy. Two photoactive bimetallic metal–organic framework (MOF) catalysts, the Ru–Eu MOF (Eu-MOF-Ru(cptpy)2) and the Ru–Pr MOF (Pr-MOF-Ru(cptpy)2) were designed and synthesized via a convenient solvothermal method. The two MOF catalysts were characterized through multiple characterization methods to demonstrate their compositions, structures, optical properties, and morphologies. The photocatalytic performances for H2 evolution from water splitting of two compounds were systemically studied by varying the loading amount of the Pt cocatalyst and the type of sacrificial agent. The introduction of a Pt cocatalyst could significantly improve their photocatalytic H2 production activities. The best sacrificial agent was ascorbic acid, and the Ru–Eu MOF showed a better catalytic effect than the Ru–Pr MOF. With ascorbic acid as the sacrificial agent, 0.5% Pt/Eu-MOF-Ru(cptpy)2 achieved an optimal light-driven H2 evolution rate of 4373 μmol·h–1·g–1. And after at least 3 times of successive usage (9 h), its catalytic activity was not evidently decreased. The excellent efficiency of photocatalytic H2 evolution by bimetallic Ru–Eu/Pr MOFs may provide a class of promising catalysts for industrial H2 production.