Anchoring metal ions in amine-functionalized boron imidazolate framework for photocatalytic reduction of CO2

The photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to energy-rich chemicals is highly appealing for alleviation of energy crisis and environment pollution. The introduction of different active sites is a key factor to determine the reaction activity and selectivity. Here, we demonstrate the metal ion-dependent performance for photocatalytic CO2 reduction by anchoring transition metal ions (Co2+ and Ni2+) in an amine-functionalized boron imidazolate framework (BIF-43). As a result, Ni@BIF-43 realized a high selectivity of 90.2% for the CO2-to-CO, while Co@BIF-43 achieved more efficient conversion with a high CO production rate of 2036.0 mu mol g(-1) h(-1). Significantly, precise control of isolated metal site on a well-defined structure through coordination-assisted strategies enables us to better understand the specific effects of different metal-ion species on photoreduction of CO2 as well as the catalytic mechanism. (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Automated summary

The paper demonstrates the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 using a boron imidazolate framework with anchored transition metal ions. The study investigates the performance and selectivity of different metal ion species and provides insights into the catalytic mechanism of CO2 photoreduction.