Electrochemical Synthesis of NiBTC Metal Organic Framework Thin Layer on Nickel Foam: An Efficient Electrocatalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

In this work, Ni-3(BTC)(2) metal-organic framework (MOF) based on the nickel (II) and benzene 1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (H3BTC) was synthesized on a nickel foam (NiBTC/Ni foam) using an electrochemical synthesis technique. This technique allows the formation of crystal layers overgrowing the porous Ni support at the room temperatures in a short synthesis time. The influence of some important parameters such as solvent, voltage, and synthesis time on the MOF production was investigated. The structure and morphology of the MOFs were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The coordination between nickel (II) and carboxylate moieties of the linker has been characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the surface area of the MOF was measured by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller nitrogen adsorption-desorption technique. The thermal stability was examined with thermal gravimetric analysis method. After synthesis and characterizations, the performance of Ni foam and NiBTC/Ni foam for the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) were compared by the linear sweep voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and the chronoamperometry. The results showed that NiBTC/Ni foam has a more catalytic activity for HER.